State clears body to pick J’khand movement leaders
The Hemant Soren govt also decided to bring in a green energy cess bill and another bill related to complete ban on the consumption of tobacco products and hukka bars
RANCHI: The state cabinet on Thursday put its seal on the proposal of reconstructing the Jharkhand Andolankari Ayog to identify the revolutionary leaders involved in Jharkhand statehood movements and approved a few beneficiary schemes for the families of the such leaders.
The Hemant Soren government also decided to bring in a green energy cess bill levying 15 paisa per unit additional cess to all conventional power generating companies and another bill related to complete ban on the consumption of tobacco, tobacco products and hukka bars.
The cabinet also gave nod to provision of ₹341 crore additional expenditure from state plan to increase the MNREGA wages to ₹225 from ₹194 per diem.
Giving details of the cabinet decision to reorganise the Jharkhand Andolankari Ayog (commission) cabinet secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said the nod to reconstruct the commission was given replacing the home and prison department’s circular of the year 2012. He said the commission head will be a retired officer of All India Services. Earlier, a retired judge used to head the commission.
The beneficiary schemes include 5% reservation in Grade-III and Grade-IV government jobs as per qualifications to one family members of those killed in police firing during the struggle for separate statehood of Jharkhand or incurred more than 40% disabilities.
Approval was given to the revised pension for the Jharkhand movement leaders as well. It would be ₹3,500 per month for those imprisoned for less than three months, ₹5,000 for this behind the bars for three to six months and ₹7,000 for those who were in jail beyond six months after the revision.
Regarding the Jharkhand green energy cess bill, 2021, the cabinet secretary said it would be flat 15 paisa per unit to all generating units producing conventional power, captive power plants and the consumers who take electric on 33 kV transmission lines. The renewable energy plants have been spared.
The government also decided for complete ban in tobacco, tobacco products like guthka, khaini etc by bringing a bill in the assembly, Ajoy Kumar said.
While giving the details he said no one will be permitted to consume tobacco or tobacco products in public place once it becomes law. Earlier, the ban was enforced through an administrative order. No shops too will be allowed to sell tobacco and tobacco products within a range if 100 metres of hisputaks, educational institutions, courts, government offices and religious places.
The penalty in case of violations too will be dearer. It will be ₹1,000 for first violation or maximum up to one year jail term. Earlier, ₹200 was charged as fine.
The minimum age of becoming eligible for consuming tobacco and tobacco products to evade penalties and punishment has also been raised to 21 years from 18 years.