Bihar Cabinet Approves Renaming Gaya as “Gaya Ji,” Increases DA, and Extends Aid to Martyred Soldiers’ Families

Patna: The state cabinet on Friday gave its approval for payment of ex-gratia amount of Rs 50 lakh to the next of the kin of army personnel and central armed police forces who gave their supreme sacrifice in “Operation Sindoor”.

Giving nod to the home department’s proposal, the cabinet decided to make an ex-gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh to the next of the kin of the personnel from armed forces and central armed police force who martyred in “Operation Sindoor”, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) S Siddharth told reporters here at a post cabinet briefing. It is a standalone scheme, he added.

The cabinet announced a hike of two per cent of dearness allowance (DA)  from 53 to 55 per cent for its employees and pensioners getting revised pay-scale of 7th pay commission while six per cent of DA from 246 to 252 per cent has been hiked for those getting pay-scale as per sixth pay commission, Siddharth said adding that 11 per cent DA from 455 to 466 per cent has been hiked for those getting salary and pension as per fifth pay commission.

It also renamed the Gaya city as “ Gaya Jee”, he said and added that the decision has been taken because of its historic and religious importance.

The cabinet also approved the formation of Bihar State Jeevika Fund Credit Cooperative Society Ltd, Patna under Bihar Cooperative Society Act 1935,  paving the way for opening “Jeevika Bank” from which Jeevika Didis can avail loans, the ACS said.

More than 50 lakh members are associated with around 11 lakh Self Help Group (SHG) operating in the state.

It also approved the proposal of Rural Development Department to hand over the cleanliness work of Block-cum-Circle offices and premises to Jeevika, Siddharth said.

The cabinet gave its nod to Panchayati Raj department’s proposal to construct new Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan at a cost of Rs 2784 crore, he said adding that Sudha Milk Whole Day Parlour will also be set up at the premises.

It also sanctioned the finance department’s proposal as per which the state government can take loan of Rs 58,193.52 crore including Rs 54213.77 crore from market.

It also got the approval of health department’s proposal to set up a “Bihar Cancer Care and Research Society”  for prevention and treatment, he said adding that it would specially work on care and research on cancer.

A decision to construct a multi storey building at Patna high court premises which would include administrative and IT building, auditorium, ADR building, multi level car parking etc.

It has also been decided that January 05, the birth anniversary of former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, will be celebrated as state function every year, the ACS said.

The cabinet also approved the proposal of Minority Affairs Department to construct buildings for 560 bed minority residential schools each at Pithna in Bhagalpur, Araria and Manjha in Gopalganj, he said adding that Rs 169 crore will be spent on the construction of these schools.

It also sanctioned for construction of 45 new buildings of Anganwadi Kendras in 12 districts, he said.

A decision was also taken to construct 104 new power sub stations under the two power distribution companies of North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd.

The cabinet also empowered the Panchayat Sachiv in rural areas for issuing birth and death certificates.

Altogether 69 decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday.