Jharkhand would be the first State in the country that is going to present its dedicated budget for women this financial year. The Cabinet on Friday cleared the proposal that would see development plans, education, schemes for safety and security of womenfolk. Informing about this, Cabinet Secretary SS Meena said that the Cabinet also cleared the proposal for a separate agriculture budget this time around.
"The Cabinet in its meeting okayed the proposal to present a separate gender budget and agriculture budget for the financial year 2016-17. Besides, the Cabinet has also cleared the address of the Governor for the Budget session."
The Cabinet took another decision providing status of agriculture to fishery. The step is expected to attract investment and provide a fillip to rural economy. Meena said that through this the fishermen would be able to get power connection on subsidized rates, Kisan Credit Cards, bank loans and insurance on premium rates.
In another important decision, the Cabinet rolled out DBT for kerosene given trough PDS shops in the State. Initially, the scheme would be implemented in six districts, namely Chatra, Giridih, Jamtara, Hazaribagh, Khunti and East Singhbhum. "Following the scheme, the beneficiaries would get the kerosene subsidy directly in their bank accounts like lPG subsidy," said the Secretary.
The Cabinet also decided to reduce 18 posts designated for JAS officials to be posted as DDCs in the districts. Maximum 12 such posts can now be filled with JAS officials of Joint Secretary rank while the six would be filled with either Indian Forest Service officials or Development Professionals, to be appointed on contracts by a selection committee headed by the Development Commissioner. Six positions of DDCs kept for IAS would remain unchanged.
Meena also added that the Cabinet allowed off-line besides, online applications for settlement of wine retail shops. Earlier, the application was invited only online. With this, the contract with Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India for printing labels for liquor bottles has been extended for one more year.