Bihar panchayat members to get arms licences as Cabinet okays key proposals
The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Cabinet has decided to grant arms licences to elected representatives of the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions following a string of attacks on local leaders ahead of assembly polls. It was among a host of decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.The government has instructed all district magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) across Bihar to begin the process of issuing licences to the panchayat representatives.advertisementHowever, the government said that applications for arms licences must be verified promptly and disposed of as per the law.
The move comes amid a string of political murders in Bihar. Last week, a panchayat head and his aide were shot dead in Bihar's Lakhisarai.In February, a JD(U) leader, Mahesh Mishra, was shot dead by armed assailants near his residence in Bihar's Gaya district. Mishra was the block secretary of JD(U) and deputy 'mukhiya' of the Chiraila panchayat.Last year, too, the head of a panchayat in Bihar's Samastipur district was shot dead.According to NCRB data, Bihar ranks only second behind Uttar Pradesh in deaths due to bullet injuries. Ahead of the elections, likely in November, Bihar police have sprung into action, scanning arms licences, and cracking down on illegal arms manufacturing units.advertisementOTHER CABINET DECISIONSAmong other key decisions taken by the Cabinet include the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana'. The scheme entails the construction of marriage halls in every panchayat across the state.The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 4,026.50 crore for the scheme, which will be implemented and operated through 'Jeevika Didis' - women's self-help groups."Our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the weddings of daughters of poor families in rural areas. Economically weak families will benefit greatly from this initiative," Nitish Kumar tweeted.Moreover, the government's community kitchen initiative, 'Didi Ki Rasoi', has also been revised, with the cost of subsidised meals reduced to Rs 20 from Rs 40 per plate.The government also said that the subsidised meals would now also be provided beyond hospitals and colleges to block, and zonal offices as well.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Madhya Pradesh CM to unveil water conservation works of Rs 1,518 crore as Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan concludes today
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has renewed his appeal for water conservation as Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, which has been running for three months across the state, will conclude on Monday. The closing ceremony of the campaign will be held in Khandwa district today and Yadav will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of water conservation works worth over Rs 1,518 crore in the programme. Before leaving for Khandwa, the Chief Minister said that the campaign was held due to inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has initiated several programmes for water conservation. 'From Gudi Padwa (March 30) to June 30, we ran Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan across the state for three months with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the campaign, I am going to Khandwa to lay the foundation stone and inauguration of various works related to water conservation worth over Rs 1518 crore,' he said. 'Khandwa district has done the best work in water conservation across the country and it has been recognised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti,' he added. He said 57,207 water conservation works done under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan, worth around Rs 578 crore, will be inaugurated today. 'Additionally, 888 water conservation works done under Watershed Development Component-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, at a cost of Rs 63.46 crore, will also be inaugurated. For Khandwa district too, various water structures, including wells, ponds, especially farm pond schemes, Amrit Sarovar schemes, will be dedicated,' the Chief Minister said. 'Awareness about water conservation has also increased across the state. The old Bawadis (stepwells) have improved. We have also given different types of awards under the campaign,' he added. Yadav also emphasised the importance of water in human life. 'No work can be done without water, neither we will be able to worship nor be able to live a day or a moment of life. Let us all come together, save water, and save lives ahead. Madhya Pradesh is home of rivers and it has its own importance. After this, we will lay more emphasis on planting trees under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' which will maintain the natural beauty of water bodies and play a life-giving role in water conservation. Plantation work will be started,' he said. (ANI)
India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
SC allows Lalit Modi to seek civil remedy in plea against Rs 10 crores fine imposed by ED
New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday has granted liberty to Lalit Modi to move to a civil court to seek remedy against a Rs 10.65 crore fine imposed on him by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case in connection with the 2009 season of the Indian Premier League. Modi had sought directions for the recovery of the fine amount from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), instead of him. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan disposed of Modi's plea, allowing him to seek civil remedy, after the counsel appearing for Modi sought to withdraw the same. Modi had moved the top court against the decision of the Bombay High Court in dismissing his plea, with a Rs 1 lakh cost. During the hearing, Modi's counsel argued that as per various earlier judicial decisions, the case is well within the Writ jurisdiction provided under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. However, the bench was of the view that the BCCI has been held as 'not a State' for recovery of the said fine imposed by the ED. 'BCCI is to be held to be 'not a state.' Recovery can't be equivalent to State', the bench stated. Modi's counsel then sought liberty to seek civil remedy by moving to a civil court in the matter. The Court agreed and disposed of the plea after noting that the same is not maintainable under Article 226 of the Constitution. In May 2018, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had levied penalties on the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and its former chief N. Srinivasan, among others, over alleged violations in the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations in the 2009 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Apart from an 82.66 Cr fine on the BCCI, and an 11.53 Cr fine on Srinivasan, penalties have also been imposed upon the former chairman of the IPL, Lalit Modi (10.65 Cr), former BCCI treasurer MP Pandove (9.72 Cr) and the State Bank of Travancore (7 Cr). The penalties amount to a total of 121.66 Cr. On July 20, 2011, the ED had issued show cause notices to Modi and the BCCI under provisions of FEMA regarding the alleged transfer of a sum of Rs 243.45 crores to Cricket South Africa without prior permission of the RBI, ahead of an IPL tournament in 2009. The ED was subsequently allowed by the Bombay High Court to summon several former BCCI officials, including Manohar and then secretary N Srinivasan, as witnesses in the matter. (ANI)
India Gazette
39 minutes ago
- India Gazette
When will this VIP syndrome in public events cease?: Randeep Surjewala hits out at Odisha government over Puri stampede
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 30 (ANI): Congress MP Randeep Surjewala slammed the BJP government over the issue of the Jagannath Puri stampede and asked when the 'VIP syndrome' in the country will cease. Expressing his condolences towards the victims of the Puri stampede, the Congress MP stated that during the Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrations, there was a 'blockage' of entry for the devotees on account of 'VIP' entry. Three people lost their lives in the Gundicha temple stampede on Sunday; meanwhile, several were left injured. The Odisha government have ordered a probe into the matter and has announced financial help of Rs 25 lakh for the victims of the stampede. 'First and foremost, let me express my heartfelt condolences to every family of devotees who have lost their loved ones in the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri... Various facts have been brought out in the media. It seems that there was a blockage of the entry on account of a VIP entry. ', Randeep Surjewala told reporters in Bengaluru. Referring to the criticism by the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders over the Bengaluru stampede, Randeep Surjewala stressed that the BJP must ask about the Bengaluru stampede, as there needs to be a 'fixation' of accountability, which the Karnataka government has not done. He stated that every life in the country is 'important' and the incident cannot be considered as 'your tragedy versus my tragedy syndrome', Surjewala said. The Congress leader mentioned that 'lessons' shall be learned from the previous stampede incidents and steps should be taken in order to avoid such incidents in the future. Surjewala suggested that every state should set up a State Crowd Safety Task Force, out of which 50 per cent should be contributed by the Union Government for its formation. 'I have suggested today that we must learn lessons from the 3 tragedies and take steps in order to ensure no such tragedy ever takes place. The first step is setting up a State Crowd Safety Task Force. Every state must have an SCSTF, and the government of India must contribute 50% of the cost of setting up such a task force', the Congress leader said. He mentioned that the task force must comprise police, home guards, the disaster management authority, local bodies, and organisers. The Congress leader informed that he has raised the issue in front of the Karnataka CM and suggested that the Union Government must take note following the Puri Rath Yatra tragedy. 'These are some of the issues that I proposed to raise with the Karnataka CM and the government of Karnataka to put in place. The government of India, PM Modi, Union HM Amit Shah should now take note post the tragedy of the Puri Rath Yatra and put in place these protocols and commit to finances for every state for a crowd management state-level task force', he said. (ANI)
