PATNA: The state cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal requiring district administrations to provide Rs 1 lakh to each eligible homeless family to purchase homestead land from private landowners, or “ryots”.
This decision comes as district administrations are facing challenges in convincing private landowners to sell their land below market rates for use as homestead land for landless families.
In another decision, the cabinet approved a finance department proposal to increase the dearness allowance (DA) for govt employees by 3%, effective from July 1.
Earlier set at 50% in line with the revised seventh pay commission recommendations, the DA will now be 53%, mirroring the recent increase by the central govt.
Regarding homestead land, district administrations have reported that private landowners are unwilling to sell at the official minimum value rate (MVR) or circle rate, which is below market value. Under the current policy, if govt land is unavailable for allotment, district administrations must attempt to purchase private land at the MVR.
However, due to resistance from landowners, the govt has decided to provide Rs 1 lakh to each landless family to directly purchase land under a scheme named after the chief minister. This proposal received cabinet approval on Thursday.
The cabinet also approved a proposal from the rural works department to implement the Rural Roads Strengthening and Management Programme.
Under this policy, all rural roads will be classified for reconstruction, strengthening, upgrading and renovation with a seven-year maintenance plan. During this period, the pitched sections will be resurfaced twice to ensure smooth vehicular movement and support economic development in rural areas.
The cabinet sanctioned Rs 814 crore for the construction of an elevated road or bund-to-bund bridge across the Bagmati river under the Bihar State Highway Project-IV. A portion of these funds will also support the construction of major and minor bridges on NH-57, covering sections in Garha, Hathaudi, Atrar, Bavangama and Aurai.
An additional Rs 46 crore was approved for the construction of a 720-seat Dr B R Ambedkar Residential School in Aurangabad’s Deo block. The cabinet also approved Rs 102 crore as an annual expenditure to operate nine industrial training institutes (ITIs) and 11 skill development centres established with central assistance.
This funding will also cover new ITIs planned by the state govt in Left-extremism-affected districts, including Aurangabad.
The cabinet also approved an increase in the monetary reward for police personnel honoured with the Shaurya award as well as an increase in the compensation given to their next of kin in the event of their death. This proposal was submitted by the home department.
