Bihar cabinet approves ₹4,026 crore marriage hall scheme in all gram panchayats
'The marriage hall will be constructed by gram panchayats at a cost of ₹50 lakh each. It will be executed in a phased manner over a period of five years beginning this financial year,' Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said at a post-cabinet media briefing in Patna.
The halls are intended to facilitate social and cultural events in rural areas, thereby supporting community cohesion and financial self-sufficiency at the village level. 'It will be run and maintained by village-level organisations,' Mr. Meena said.
In another key decision, the cabinet approved the Rural Development Department's proposal to operationalise Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi units at block-level offices, as well as at sub-divisional and district headquarters. 'Visitors from remote areas will be able to access affordable meals, and the initiative will provide livelihood opportunities for women associated with the Jeevika scheme,' Mr. Meena added.
The Health Department's proposal to launch Didi Ki Rasoi at government medical colleges and hospitals was also approved. The meals will be made available at a subsidised rate of ₹20 per plate, Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit said. The scheme will be rolled out in a phased manner starting July 1, at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore.
The cabinet further cleared a proposal to form a committee under Mr. Amrit's chairmanship to devise criteria for the disbursement of ₹2 lakh to women entrepreneurs from among the 94 lakh families identified as poor in the caste-based survey. Bihar has a total of 2.76 crore families.
The State also announced an increase in social security pensions under schemes for old age, disability, and widow beneficiaries. As per the decision, the monthly pension amount will be raised from ₹400 to ₹1,100, benefitting around 1.11 crore people. 'This would put an additional burden of ₹9,202 crore on the State exchequer,' Mr. Meena said.
In another administrative reform, the cabinet doubled the expenditure limit that gram panchayats can approve under MGNREGA from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
The State Government also approved a 1.5-fold increase in allowances for elected representatives in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and members of the Gram Kutchery.
In a welfare measure, the cabinet sanctioned ₹5 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of panchayat and Gram Kutchery members in case of normal death during their tenure.
The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, cleared a total of 46 proposals during the meeting.
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