BIHAR

Deputy CM cum finance ministerTarkishore Prasadsaid in the legislative assembly on Friday that the government has been working with an integrated vision for an all-around development of the state and its 2022-23 budget reflects the development story.
In tune with the same, he said Saat Nishchay-2 andJal-Jeevan-Hariyali(JJH) schemes remain the flagship programmes of the government.

He said the social sector schemes were being implemented to address the concerns of weaker sections, including the old and aged persons. He also gave details of the allotments made for schemes in various departments.

Prasad was giving the governments reply to the House debate on the states Rs2.38 lakh crore budget for the 2022-23 fiscal that he tabled on February 28. The House is slated to debate and pass the appropriation Bill concerned on March 25.

Prasad said Rs5,000 crore had been earmarked for the schemes under implementation as part of the Saat Nishchay-2 programmes, noting that the departments concerned have been working in synergy to implement them, as well as the schemes under JJH programme.

The number of essential drugs to be given free in the government hospitals has been increased from 387 to 611, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who also holds the charge of Health department, said on Saturday after releasing a book with essential drugs list (EDL) and essential equipment list (EEL).

Among the essential medicines added are those used in treatment of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, kidney issues, stroke and infant and maternal health. State health Society executive directorSanjay Kumar Singhsaid the names of these drugs have been added to the Software from where government hospitals make their requisitions. He said for the new drugs,BiharMedical Services and Corporation Limited will float a tender and go for rate contract. Singh said the new drugs will be made available in the next three months.

The Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS) ofBihar, which is actively engaged in the anti-tobacco campaign for the last several years, on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce a complete nationwide ban on the production and consumption ofpan masala,gutka, chewing flavoured tobacco and smokeless tobacco (SLT) in the country in the interest of adolescents Health.

In Bihar, 7.3% children have been found in the habit of consuming tobacco. A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that tobacco consumption was prevalent in 6.6% boys and 8% girls among the school students in all the 38 districts of the state.

The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro has received a contract for the design and construction of the first phase of the Patna Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) Metro project.

The project, being funded by Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), is scheduled to be completed within 42 months, it said.

“L&T is proud to be associated with this first underground Metro rail project for Phase-1 in Patna. Over the years, L&T has significantly enhanced its capability to build faster, and reliable mass transit systems and this project is in line with its strategic goals

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, called for a ‘one nation, one power tariff’ policy, stating that some States have to purchase power at a higher rate than others.

Unveiling power department projects worth 15,871 crore, he said, Bihar gets electricity from the Central Government’s power Plants at a higher rate compared to other States.

He said that his Government has decided to install smart prepaid electricity meters in the State to ensure transparency.

Kumar said that his Government ensured electricity connection to every household of the State in October 2018.

The statecabinet sanctioned Rs 838.54 crore for construction of new buildings and development of in four medical institutions of traditional medical practices and also Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). The amount sanctioned is pertaining to the 2021-22 fiscal.

For the construction of buildings and related other infrastructure in Rajkiya Ayodhya Shivkumari Ayurved College and Hospital at Begusarai, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 257.46 crore. It has the capacity to 150 students. Similarly, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 121.01 crore for Rai Bahadur Tunki Sah Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur, which has the capacity to accommodate 120 students.

On the other hand, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 195.63 crore for carrying out construction activities in Maharani Rameshwari Indian Medical Science Institute at Mohanpur in Darbhanga.

At a time when many states are facing incessant late monsoon rainfall, theBiharcabinet declared 7,841 villages of 11 districts asdroughthit and sanctioned Rs 500 crore in aid.

Every family in these villages across 937 panchayats in 96 blocks will receive special assistance worth Rs 3,500 each from the Disaster Management department.

The disaster management department had identified Jehanabad,Gaya, Aurangabad, Sheikhpura, Nawada, Munger, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui and , as the worst-hit districts.

The CM said the 15kg of food grain being supplied per student per month at the SC/ST welfare hostels should be continued. He also directed them to ensure that the old SC/ST hostel buildings are renovated and converted into new ones.

The CM said the implementation of the Scholarship and merit-cum-POVERTY scholarships should be regularly monitored to ensure that it is executed with transparency to provide benefits to the SC/ST students. Further, the monetary incentive schemes for them should also be implemented, he said.