By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to waive off electricity bills as on June 30, 2013, of domestic consumers who are below poverty line (BPL). A decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The decision will put a burden of Rs. 225 crore on the state exchequer. The State Government will provide funds as grant to power distribution companies against 50 per cent waiver of surcharge and remaining 50 per cent on waiver of original bill amount, an official Press release said.
The consumers not enlisted in BPL category in the billing system of power distribution companies can avail this benefit by producing ration cards issued to BPL families (including Antyodaya families). Total outstanding amount is Rs.564.68 crore. After deducting amount of surcharge worth Rs.114.93 crore, basic outstanding amount comes to Rs.449.75 crore. Of this, the State Government will bear Rs.225 crore.
Police Health Security Scheme
The cabinet also decided to implement Madhya Pradesh Police Health Security Scheme for police officers and employees. The scheme will be applicable only to the police personnel working in the state. Police officers and employees of all cadres working in Madhya Pradesh will be eligible to become its members. The scheme will not be applicable to Indian Police Service officers. The scheme will be run by a registered trust, whose state-level management committee will be headed by the Director General of Police. Rs.5.60 crore has been provisioned for the first year and later on Rs.4 crore per annum under the scheme.
Each member will have to deposit entry fee of Rs.100 and Rs.50 per month contribution. Member and spouse/dependent of the member will be entitled for up to Rs.8 lakh treatment in a financial year. Treatment facility will be available in State Government-recognised hospitals in and outside the state. After consulting Chief Medical and Health Officer, the unit head will refer scheme’s member for treatment in hospitals in and outside the state.
Four-tier pay scale to doctors
The cabinet sanctioned 4-tier pay scale for medical officers, dental surgeons and specialist cadre working under Public Health & Family Welfare Department. With this, discrepancies in pay benefits of doctors have been removed.
For higher pay scale, counting of 6 years, 12 years and 18 years will be done from the date of joining cadre. Pay fixation will be done by sanctioning pay scale with effect from August 28, 2008 as per eligibility on the basis of service period. Other provisions issued vide departmental order dated May 30, 2012 will remain in force. Recovery of excess payment of pay allowances of doctors in the context of departmental order dated May 23, 2009 will be made from arrears of Sixth Pay Scale. If any amount remains even after this adjustment, it will be recovered from medical service allowance of concerning doctors.