By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh state cabinet at its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Monday endorsed the “Mukhya Mantri Utkrishtata Puraskar Rules 2007” (Chief Minister Excellence award rules 2007) for government servants.
According to an official Press release the awards would be conferred to encourage initiatives, innovation and excellence in functioning of government officers and employees. Under this, the awards would be given at state and district levels. The first state-level award in individual category would comprise Rs. 100,000 and citation, the second award Rs. 75,000 and citation and the third award would comprise Rs. 50,000 and citation. The award in team category would carry Rs. three lakh and citation and the amount would be equally distributed among all the members of the team. The rules provide for a Rs. five lakh award with citation to government office institution.
At district level, the first award would consist of Rs. 25,000 and citation, the second award Rs. 15,000 and citation and the third award Rs. 10,000 and citation.
The applications for the awards would be received through proper channel. The proposals received would be examined by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The awards would be given on the basis of works done between April 1 and March 31.
It may be mentioned here that at Manthan workshop on January 14, the Chief Minister had directed to give awards to government servants for excellent work.
Meanwhile, the cabinet decided to set up a Madhya Pradesh State Safai Karmachari Commission. The chief Minister had made an announcement to this effect at Anusuchit Jati Panchayat organized on January 14, 2007. The Commission would comprise a chairman and two members one of which would be a woman.
The Commission would make recommendations to the state government for programme under a time bound action plan to remove the disparities in the status, facilities and opportunities available to sanitary workers. The Commission would study and evaluate the implementation of the programmes and schemes for socio-economic rehabilitation of the sanitary workers. It would also make recommendations about their implementation and look into the complaints of sanitary workers besides considering the subjects specified by the state government. The Commission would hold its meetings from time to time but it would be mandatory for it to hold quarterly meetings. The administrative and financial arrangements for the Commission would be made by the state government. An annual expenditure of Rs. 44.76 lakh is likely to be entailed on setting up of the Commission.
The cabinet accorded sanction for converting Indore-Ujjain road into a four-lane one under BOT and gave an administrative sanction of Rs. 251.92 crore for this.
The cabinet gave ex post facto approval to the terms of references set for judicial enquiry into the incident of firing on September 22, 2007 in Rewa district.
The cabinet also decided to increase the Samman Nidhi for freedom fighters from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000. At present, Samman Nidhi is being provided to about 1607 freedom fighters. The increase would entail an expenditure of Rs. 3 crore 85 lakh 68 thousand annually. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister had announced to increase the Samman Nidhi at a function organized in August 2007 at Ravindra Bhawan.
The cabinet also sanctioned Rs. 21.32 crore for mid-day meal programme in 2640 middle schools in 50 tribal blocks for a period of five years (2007-2012) under the 11th Five Year Plan of the tribal welfare department. The sanction has been given on the condition that no amount would be spent on kitchen sheds in year 2007-08 and in next four years on availability of funds for kitchen sheds or availability of sheds in the attached primary schools funds would not be spent on them.
The cabinet approved the appointment of justice Narendra Ganesh Karamwelkar, retired judge, as chairman of Grievances Redressal Authority, Sardar Sarovar Project on the vacant post for a period of three years from the date he assumes office. ([email protected])