Retirement age of govt medical teachers raised

Patna, Jan 18 (PTI) The retirement age of doctorsteaching in government medical colleges in Bihar will beraised to 65 years from 62 years.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired byChief Minister Nitish Kumar today, principal secretary in thecabinet and coordination department Afzal Amanullah toldreporters here.

This would benefit teachers of six medical collegesacross the state.

The government also released Rs 40 crore for the paymentof monthly TA/DA and other emoluments to representatives ofthe panchayati Raj system during 2010-11, he said.

Amanullah said in a bid to promote the sugarcaneindustry, the key industry since the bifurcation of Bihar in2000, the government sanctioned Rs 25.73 crore for sugarcanecultivation under which farmers would be provided subsidy ofRs 100 per quintal for purchase of seeds, Rs 15 fortranportation of seeds as well as inter-cropping, purchase ofequipment and use of organic fertiliser.

The government has also decided to provide 50 per centsubsidy to farmers for using wastes of sugarcane industriesand converting them into vermi compost and organic fertiliser.

The government also made avilable Rs 10 crore to BiharState Electricity Board (BSEB) as loan for energising 40 powersub-stations and upgradation of transmission and distributionsystem in the state.

It sanctioned Rs 2 crore to each of the 15Maoist-affected districts in the for modernisation of thepolice force under the centrally sponsored scheme for itduring the current fiscal.

The Bihar cabinet also released over Rs 89.58 lakh forhelping weavers and those engaged in silk production inthe state, Amanullah said.