Proposal to rehabilitate Covid orphans gets Cabinet approval

PATNA: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the government’s proposal to launch a new scheme, Bal Sahayata Yojana, for rehabilitation, nutrition and education of children orphaned by Covid pandemic. The cabinet also sanctioned the social welfare department’s proposal to make budgetary provisions to bear the expenditure on account of the implementation of the project.
The cabinet also approved panchayati raj’s department proposal to allot Rs 656 crore to the panchayats for the 2021-22 fiscal on the recommendations of the sixth State Finance Commission.
The cabinet sanctioned Rs 582 crore to the road construction department for expenditure on three state highways – Mansi-Saharsa-Hardi Caudhara road, Majhwe-Gobindpur road and Amba-Deo-Madanpur road – and construction of the approach road of the Pipraghat bridge to facilitate flow of water from the Kamla river. Further, the cabinet gave nod to the construction of storm water drainage in Katihar at an expenditure of Rs 220 crore.
The cabinet also approved the two-party agreement between National Hydel Power Corporation and Bihar Hydel Power Corporation for 40-year period for work on the 130MW multi-purpose hydel power project at Dagmara in Supaul district. The project will entail an expenditure of Rs 700 crore over five years.
The cabinet sanctioned construction of barracks for the male and female wards in eight central jails – 50-capacity barrack for the males and 30-capacity ward for the females. Similarly, at the 14 sub-divisional jails, 30-capacity barrack will be constructed for the males and 20-capacity for the females. For this, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 32 crore with respect to eight central jails and Rs 42 crore pertaining to the 14 sub-divisional jails.
The cabinet gave its approval to the allotment of Rs 90 crore for expenditure under the government’s scheme meant to make available quality seeds even in the remotest of the areas. Further, Rs 6 crore would be paid to the National Council of Science Museums as fee for the modernisation and upgradation of the projection system at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium here.
The also cabinet approved the selection of Bengaluru-based Akshay Patra and Isckon Trust-Patna to provide midday meal at schools in Danapur, Phulwarisharif and Patna Sadar blocks. The cabinet also approved the decision of the government to become guarantor for the raising of loans worth Rs 1,000 crore from banks and financial institutions by Bihar State Food and Civil Supply Corporation to meet the cost of wheat procurement.