In order to extend respect and recognition in the lines of Manki Mundas and Gram Pradhans to other traditional village headmen delivering certain social responsibilities over long period of time as well, the Government has decided to pay them fixed remuneration every month.
Now nearly 33,000 such traditional heads operative in different parts of Jharkhand would be benefited by the decision taken by the Cabinet on Monday. Informing about the decision Revenue and Land Reforms Secretary KK Soan said that the scheme would include, 86 Manki Mundas, 6986 Gram Pradhans, and 1482 Dakuas, several others.
“The remuneration of Manki Munda, Gram Pradhan, and Dakua has been doubled from existing Rs 500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500, respectively. Along with those, new categories of society’s respected heads such as 1206 Mundas, 194 Parganayas, 1824 Praniks, 2172 Zobmajhis, 1740 Kudam-Naikis, 2188 Naikis, 2505 Gorains, 377 Mool Raiyats, 16 Pahada Rajas, 22 Dhatwals and 47 Tabedars have also been included into the list of beneficiaries. Apart from the three earlier headmen numbering 8800, the rest around 26,000 newly identified ones would be paid Rs 1000 per month,” said the Principal Secretary. The step would cost the exchequer about Rs 42.43 crore every year.
Also, remuneration for anaganwadi sevikas, sahaikas and laghu sevikas has been raised by Rs 1,500, Rs 750 and Rs 1,250 per month along with the provision of performance linked incentives. “Rs 500 to Rs 250 can be paid to them based on their performance in ananwadis. Provision of Rs 33.82 crore has been made for this besides Rs 100.70 crore to meet the cost expected to be incurred due to the hike given. The expenses would be shared on 60:40 basis between the Center and the State,” said Women and Child Development Secretary Amitabh Kaushal.
At the same time provision of Rs 191.83 crore for the centrally sponsored scheme ICDS under nutrition mission has been made out of which Rs 58.36 crore has been released for the year 2018-19 for improving software based monitoring system.
In another important decision the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 3,57,28,000 for setting up sculptures at Birsa Munda Museum coming up at Birsa Munda jail complex in Ranchi. Statues of the ‘Dharti Aba’ and 10 other sons of the soil would be setup at the iconic place where the ‘Ulgulan’ leader was lodged before being hanged by the British.
“Statue of Birsa Munda would be 25 feet tall. Work to design and install the statues of the revolutionaries has been given on nomination basis to Ramsutar Art Creations Pvt Limited. Names of the ten other revolutionaries would be finalised and suggested to the Government by the Tribal Research Institute,” said Urban Development Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal of Welfare Department to provide Rs one lakh as stipend to those UPSC Civil Services aspirants from the State who have qualified the preliminary test.
“This would b one time stipend to prepare for the Mains and interview. Certain conditions like the applicant should have done his or her intermediate and graduation from the State and having family income not above Rs 2.5 lakh per annum are there. This can be availed only once,” said Welfare Secretary Himani Pandey.