MP Cabinet ayes directions for compassionate appointment

Bhopal, Aug 12 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government today approved integrated directions with regard to providing appointment on compassionate grounds to kin of government employees who die in service.

A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here, decided to provide Rs 1 lakh as compassion grant in lump sum to the next of kin of daily wage-earning employees and employees drawing salaries from the workcharged/contingency fund, an official release said.

This would not include gratuity. The amount would be paid from salary head under the workcharged/contingency head of the department concerned.

The Cabinet also approved action plans presented by companies of the State Electricity Board for the 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period 2007-12. These include division of feeders and a scheme regarding agricultural pumps.

The plan of the Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company, Jabalpur, is to the tune of Rs 5,200 crore. Of this, provision of Rs 2,137.31 cr would be made under the 11th FYP's limit.

Similarly, the Central Zone Power Distribution Company, Bhopal, presented a plan to the tune of Rs 2,584.65 cr. Of this, Rs 1,318.37 cr would be provided from the 11th FYP.

The West Zone Power Distribution Company, Indore, presented a plan to the tune of Rs 4,342.20 cr. Of this, Rs 1,900 cr would be provided from the 11th FYP.

Similarly, the East Zone Power Distribution Company, Jabalpur, presented a plan to the tune of Rs 3,630 cr. Of this, Rs 1,335.30 cr would be provided from the 11th FYP.

Every year, the state government allocates funds in its budget as part of its share capital under the investment head to power transmission companies for improvement of transmission and distribution.

In the 2008-09 budget, Rs 169.40 cr were allocated to the Central Zone Power Distribution Company, Rs 71 cr to the Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company, Rs 98.37 cr for the East Zone Power Distribution Company and Rs 10.72 cr for the West Zone Power Distribution Company.

The Cabinet decided to fill 1,500 posts of forest guards with daily wage-earners already working in the Forests Department. Of these, 5 per cent would be reserved for players who have taken part in district, zonal and state-level competitions organised by the government.

The government sanctioned proposals for opening 20 50-seat pre-matric hostels in 14 districts and increase of 2,000 seats in existing pre-matric hostels during 2008-09. It gave administrative and financial sanction to the tune of Rs 260.80 cr. Eighteen of the 20 hostels would be for girls.

UNI AC 1922