The state cabinet at its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today decided to provide free uniforms to boy students of all sections from I to VIII standard. For this, amount at the rate of Rs. 400 per student would be provided to their parents by account payee cheques. Following this decision about 7 lakh boy students of above poverty line and other sections would get uniforms from state’s plan head.
At present, under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan girl students of class I to VIII standard and boy students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and from BPL families get uniforms at the rate of Rs. 400 per student. As a result of today’s cabinet decision now there will be no discrimination and boy students of all sections would get free uniforms.Electricity Duty Rates Rationalized
The state government has imposed electricity duty and cess under the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Electricity Duty Act 1949 and Madhya Pradesh Cess Act 1981. In May 1995, the electricity duty rates were fixed in terms of per unit percentage.
The cabinet at its meeting today decided to rationalize these rates. Accordingly, the 14 rates of electricity duty for different purposes have been confined to 4 slabs. Besides, the per unit cess of 10 paise charged from domestic, non-domestic, industrial, irrigation, water words consumers has been abolished and it has now been restricted to only special category of power suppliers. Moreover, the stone crushers of 150 horse power capacity, on which 40 percent electricity duty is charged at present, has been reduced to 9 percent. Rationalizing the rates for electricity duty on domestic consumers, the electricity duty rate has been reduced from maximum 23 percent to 15 percent.
Atal Bal Mitra Yojana
With a view to enlisting public participation in improving the general condition of children and for conduct of Anganwari centres, the cabinet decided to launch an Atal Bal Mitra Yojana. Besides, staff and required budget for Atal Bal Arogya Mission was also sanctioned.
Under Atal Bal Mitra Yojana the process of donating private land for Anganwari centres and construction of rooms in them, installation of hand pumps, repair and whitewashing, construction of boundary walls, supply of uniforms, utensils, furniture and other material and for adoption of very underweight children for improving their nutrition level has been included in it. Following this, any individual, institution or group become partner in these activities by making donation in cash or kind. Such donors and those helping in these activities would not only be suitably honoured but action would also be taken to get them exemption under section 80-G of the Income Tax Act on the donated amount.
With a view to achieving the targets under Atal Bal Arogya Mission, services of an IAS officer as Director and other officers of the rank of Joint Director, Assistant Director, Financial Adviser, Accountant etc would be taken on deputation. As many as 50 posts of Assistant Manager, Mission, 453 posts of Assistant Mission Coordinator, 3 posts of Data Entry Operator and one post of Stenographer would be filled through contract appointments.
Discretionary Fund of MLAs Increased
The cabinet decided to increase the Discretionary Fund of MLAs from Rs. three lakh to Rs. eight lakh so that they can sanction funds to the needy for medical treatment and other requirements. Following this increase, now the MLAs would get Rs. 85 lakh instead of Rs. 80 lakh per year. Of this, Rs. 77 lakh would be meant for development and construction works and Rs. 8 lakh for discretionary grants. This increase would be effected from the current financial year.
Contingency Fund Increased
The cabinet decided to increase the State’s Contingency Fund from Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 200 crore. In year 2006-07, the fund was increased from Rs. 40 crore to Rs. 100 crore. In comparison to that now the state’s budget has increased by about two fold. Besides, sometimes, circumstances arise when providing advance from Contingency Fund becomes necessary. Hence the decision to increase the Fund.
Sakshar Bharat Yojana in Less Than 50 Percent Women Literacy Rate Districts
The cabinet accorded sanction for inclusion of 27 more districts having less than 50 percent literacy rate under centrally sponsored Sakshar Bharat Yojana. Under this, the unlettered adults of 15 years of age or more, especially women would be imparted functional literacy. Their skills would also be upgraded. Following this decision, 51 lakh 46 thousand illiterate persons would benefit in these 27 districts. Earlier, sanction was given last year for inclusion of 10 districts in the first phase.
Other Decisions
The cabinet decided to purchase electricity generated from non-conventional sources subject to the ceiling of R.P.O. after approval of the Electricity Regulatory Commission at the rate fixed by it.
As per the National Tariff Policy released by Government of India, provisions have been made for purchase of electricity generated from non-conventional sources. The policy has been amended from time to time. As per the clarification given by Government of India on the Tariff Policy, the future energy requirements are to be met through competitive tender process, but in view of the less developed technique of non-conventional energy, it can be purchased at the rates prescribed by the Regulatory Commission as per circumstances.
The cabinet decided to set up check-posts at Balsamund in Barwani district and Sinkrauda in Morena district. Posts of Head Constable and Constable were also sanctioned for these posts.
The cabinet sanctioned creation of two posts of order carriers in newly constituted Alirajpur district.
The cabinet accorded sanction for direct recruitment of 18 District Coordinators, 16 Assistant Research Officers and 5 executive posts of Field Coordinator to fill up the posts of feeding cadre in Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department.