Jharkhand Cabinet Waives Power Dues

• 30 Aug 2024

Why in News?

Recently, The Jharkhand government has decided to waive Rs 3,584 crore in power dues for around 39.44 lakh consumers benefiting from the 200-unit free electricity scheme.

Key Points

• The decision aims to alleviate the financial pressures on domestic consumers registered under the Mukhyamantri Urja Khushali Yojana.
• Other decisions that were approved by the state government are:
  • Ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh and a government job for the families of Agniveer soldiers from Jharkhand who die during duty or military operations.
    • Ex-gratia payment is the money which is paid due to moral obligation and not due to legal obligation.
  • Extending the remuneration period for anganwadi poshan sakhis and cooks from 10 to 12 months.
    • The re-appointment of 10,388 poshan sakhis in six districts - Dhanbad, Dumka, Giridih, Chatra, Koderma, and Godda.

Agnipath Scheme

• The term "Agniveer" translates to "Fire-Warriors" and is a new military rank.
• It is a scheme of recruiting army personnel below officer ranks such as soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers to the Indian Armed Forces.
• They are recruited for a period of 4 years, after which, upto 25% of these recruits (called Agniveers), can join the services on a permanent commission (another 15 years), subject to merit and organisational requirements.
• At present, all sailors, airmen, and soldiers, except the technical cadre of the medical branch, are recruited to the services under this scheme.