Jharkhand

• 30 Aug 2024

Jharkhand Cabinet Waives Power Dues

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.