Jharkhand cabinet hikes ex gratia for animal attack victims; clears salary advance scheme

Ranchi (IANS): The Jharkhand cabinet approved several major decisions on Monday, including a significant hike in compensation for casualties caused by wild animal attacks, increasing the amount from ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, established a streamlined, time-bound mechanism to disburse immediate relief to affected families.

New Compensation Structure for Wild Animal Attacks

The updated compensation guidelines include:

• Casualties: Increased to ₹10 lakh.
• Permanent Disability: ₹3.5 lakh will be provided.
• Serious Injuries: ₹2 lakh will be granted.
• Minor Injuries: Victims will receive ₹35,000.

Salary Advance Scheme for Government Staff

The cabinet approved a salary advance and easy loan facility scheme for state government employees to help manage emergency financial needs. Operated through non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), the scheme aims to prevent workers from borrowing from high-interest lenders.

Employees can draw a portion of their salary up to 30 days in advance, with no interest or extra charges if repaid within the same salary cycle. Longer-term, installment-based loans are also available, and the government clarified that the scheme will not burden the state exchequer.

Pay Uniformity and Key Infrastructure Projects

To address long-standing pay disparities, the Cabinet approved a proposal to introduce a uniform pay structure for contractual computer operators and data entry operators across all state departments.

Major infrastructure and administrative approvals include:

• Amanat Barrage Project: Granted ₹947.26 crore for this crucial irrigation and agriculture project in Palamu district.
• Ranchi Road Expansion: Sanctioned ₹162.82 crore for four-laning and strengthening the Namkum-Doranda road.
• Collectorate Regularisation: Approved the regularisation of services for certain employees in the Bokaro and Godda district collectorates.
• Legal Appointment: Formally approved the appointment of Advocate Rohitashya Rai as the Advocate General of Jharkhand.

Mining Leases and Regional Approvals

The cabinet cleared several proposals in the mining sector, approving mining leases for the Parbatpur and Sitanala coal blocks in Bokaro district, as well as the Jeetpur coal block in Godda district. Additionally, the state will seek central government approval to reserve specific mineral blocks in East Singhbhum.

Other decisions include the continuation of the Women’s Helpline (181) services, the extension of the Jharnet 2.0 project, the formation of an independent panel of experts under the Dam Safety Act, and the implementation of a hybrid operations model within the Forest Department.