The State Cabinet on Tuesday set the criteria, under which a lawmaker has to utilise Rs 50 lakh of its MLA funds in providing drinking water facilities to people. An MLA for development activities gets Rs 4 crore per annum.

State Cabinet Coordination department secretary (in-charge) Ajay Kumar Singh said, “With today’s decision, it is mandatory for an MLA to utilize Rs 50 lakh of the MLA fund in providing drinking water facilities to residents of area falling under the constituency.” Sources said that the State Government decided to make amendments of MLA fund as the Jharkhand is reeling under severe water crisis. The problem of drinking water is not limited to urban areas, but many pockets of rural areas too are affected with severe water crisis.

The State government to tide out water crisis is already running Mukhyamantri Jan Jal Yojana, as per which tolas that are dominated by SC/ST would be covered with piped drinking water. The provision of piped drinking water is for both at rural and urban areas.

The State Cabinet also gave its nod for amendments in Mukhyamatri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana. As per the amendments the cut-off date for beneficiaries to avail the facility is May 30 which will be applicable for next five years. Under the scheme, the beneficiaries will get two or more than two installments. The respective DCs after verifying the list of beneficiaries will credit the money in beneficiaries   account through DBT. Also those farmers who are under excluded from getting the benefits under Prime Minister Kishan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM Kishan) are not entitled to get the benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kishan Ashirwad Yojana too. As per Prime Minister Kishan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM Kishan) those farmers who are government employee are not entitled to get the benefits of the schemes.

Sources said that the second installments of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi will reach farmers by June 19. Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday held a meeting with PMKSN CEO Vivek Agarwal in this connection.

For farmers of State it is double bonanza as they will be benefited with both PMKSN and Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana. Under PMKSN farmers will get Rs 6000 per annum, while State government will provide financial assistance of Rs . 5000 per acre under CM Krishi Ashirvad Yojna.

In another decision the government decided to make changes in the honorarium of contractual workers working under MNREGA. The Cabinet also gave its nod for amendments in Jharkhand Motor Vehicle Act 2001. The Cabinet also gave its nod for inclusion of Sonkar caste in OBC category with Sonar and Asthra Lohi Karmakar caste. The Cabinet also granted Rs 300 crore to Jharkhand Power Distribution Corporation Limited for payment to Damodar Valley Corporation for its due. In other decision taken of energy department, the Cabinet gave its nod for release of 40 per cent power generated from Tenughat Thermal Power Station to Bihar after the expansion of the thermal power plant.

In today’s Cabinet meet the Government gave its nod to 14 agendas which includes making amendments in Jharkhand GST Act among others.