Bihar Government approves scheme to give `1 lakh interim relief to mob violence victim

PATNA: The Bihar government on Thursday approved a scheme for providing interim relief of Rs one lakh to those affected by mob violence besides speedy trial of such cases.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of the state cabinet here, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretarriat Department, Sanjay Kumar told reporters.

The scheme provides for an interim relief of Rs one lakh which would be made available to victims of mob violence within a month of the incident.

Besides, all such cases will be heard at fast track courts which would ensure completion of trial within six months and a final compensation amount, inclusive of the interim relief, would be paid thereupon, the Principal Secretary said.

The decision has been taken in keeping with recent guide- lines issued by the Supreme Court with regard to mob violence, he added. Notably, in the last one week, the state has witnessed mob violence in as many as three districts where crowds have taken the law in their own hands and beaten to death men or women allegedly involved in some sort of crime.

Another important decision taken at the cabinet meeting is the approval of recommendations of a high-level committee whereby contractual employees in various government departments would get benefits at par with the regular staff, the Principal Secretary said.

Nod was also given for entering a loan agreement, for the purpose of building village roads, with the BRICS New Development Bank from which USD 350 million are to be borrowed, he said. As per the loan agreement, the money would be borrowed under a MultiTranche Financial Facility and a loan of USD 45 million would be taken for Tranche, he added.

A sum of Rs 122.71 crore was also approved for construction of a building which would house the Aryabhatt Knowledge University based in Patna, he said.

Green signal was also given for releasing a total sum of Rs 241.42 crore towards payment of salaries, arrears and postretirement benefits to teaching and non-teaching staff of 28 colleges.