Bihar cabinet OKs hike in anganwadi honorarium, clears major projects

PATNA: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the hike in monthly honorarium for anganwadi sevikas (workers) and sahayikas (assistants) announced earlier by CM Nitish Kumar and also gave its nod to the establishment of the Jeevika Bhavan in Patna.The CM had made the announcement on his social media account on Monday. The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the increase in the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers from the existing Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000, and that of assistants from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500, cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary said.The hike would involve an additional annual expenditure of Rs 345 crore, which would be met from the state plan fund. The revised rates will be effective from Sept 1.The cabinet also cleared a proposal of the urban development and housing department to engage Coimbatore-based Isha Foundation for setting up LPG-based crematoriums in six towns of the state – Patna, Gaya, Chhapra, Saharsa, Bhagalpur and Begusarai. The foundation will be provided one acre of land on a 33-year lease in each city against a token payment of Re 1.The general administration department’s proposal to provide two-year fellowships to officials and personnel of identified departments for research on public policy matters was also approved. The fellowship will be offered to people with proven expertise so their studies add new perspectives and dynamism to policy implementation.In another decision, the cabinet approved the proposal of the rural development department to establish a Jeevika Bhavan in Patna at a cost of Rs 73 crore. The headquarters will support entrepreneurial development of members associated with self-help groups and oversee related administrative work.The cabinet also approved the setting up of Bihar Institute of Grain Storage Management and Training (BIGSMT) with required infrastructure, posts and manpower. The project, with an annual expenditure of Rs 464 crore, will provide training and orientation to officials of the Bihar State Food and Civil Supply Corporation and the food and consumer protection department. It will also include a laboratory for foodgrain research and investigation.The cabinet sanctioned the release of Rs 651 crore already spent on the construction of Uderasthan barrage in Jehanabad under the water resources department. It also approved Rs 124 crore for the acquisition of 466 acres of land in Asarganj circle of Munger district by the infrastructure development authority for expansion of the industrial area.For clearing pending electricity dues, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the state’s urban local bodies during the 2025-26 financial year, as proposed by the urban development and housing department. Separately, Rs 594 crore was approved for the panchayati raj department to clear electricity bills of its regional offices and those under the CM rural piped drinking water supply scheme. For the CM rural solar light scheme, Rs 100 crore was sanctioned.The cabinet also approved a proportionate increase in travelling allowance for officials and employees following the rise in DA beyond the 50% mark. It raised the state contingency fund for 2025-26 to its maximum cap of Rs 31,689 crore.PATNAAmong other approvals, the cabinet sanctioned the creation of 3,303 new posts of revenue karmcharis (assistants), involving an annual expenditure of Rs 131 crore. It also approved Rs 280 crore for installation of CCTV cameras across police stations in the state over the next five years to strengthen surveillance.