Mobile phones for all IOs, computer education in secondary schools
Ranchi, Jan 21: Chief Minister Hemant Soren led cabinet meeting on Tuesday gave nod to health insurance policy for state employees and pensioners.
The meeting marked significant progress in various sectors, with decisions aimed at enhancing healthcare, legal services, and welfare programs across the state.
A major highlight of the meeting was the approval of the revised health insurance policy for state employees and pensioners. The scheme will provide financial coverage of up to Rs five lakh annually for common illnesses and Rs 10 lakh for critical illnesses. Although the initial resolution for the scheme was issued on July 31, 2023, its implementation was delayed due to certain errors. These issues have now been resolved, and the updated file has been submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat. The government is also considering extending the deadline for beneficiaries whose bank accounts are not linked with Aadhaar, as payments to such individuals have been halted since January.
In collaboration with Tata AIG General Insurance Company, the government has decided to extend better medical facilities to about 1.5 lakh pensioners and their family members.
Pensioners, who earlier had limited benefits compared to state employees, will now receive comprehensive coverage. The scheme will be implemented with a Rs150 crore budget, of which Rs 100 crore will be utilized for immediate execution, while Rs 50 crore will be reserved as a buffer stock under the Jharkhand Aarogya Society’s trust. So far, around two lakh state employees and pensioners have registered under the scheme, which requires an annual premium of Rs 6,000 from each beneficiary.
In the healthcare sector, the Cabinet approved the formation of the Jharkhand Paramedical District-Level Cadre (Recruitment, Promotion, and Other Service Conditions) Rules, 2025. This decision is expected to streamline the recruitment process and improve the working conditions of paramedical staff.
In all 18 proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting.
Prominent among them include a decision to provide mobile phones to all police Investigating Officers (IO), with the proposal from the Home Department. Mobile phones valued up to 25,000 rupees will be distributed.
Additionally, a financial allocation of Rs 94 crore 50 lakh has been sanctioned for computer education in secondary schools for the period from 2024-25 to 2029-30.
An advance of Rs 12 crore 10 lakh has been approved from the state’s contingency fund for the Jharkhand Advocate Welfare Fund Trust Committee, which was formed by the High Court for the financial year 2024-25.
The approval has also been granted to annul the salary increase penalty of Kumkum Prasad, the then Block Development Officer of Tamar.
Additionally, the resolution to appoint a highly skilled professional consultant on a contractual basis to the position of Special Secretary has been annulled.
The creation of senior hospital management positions has been approved for state medical colleges, district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centers.
Post facto approval has been granted for the extension of KK Verma’s tenure as the Managing Director of the Transmission Corporation until December 31, 2025.
The post-event approval for the second supplementary expenditure statement for the financial year 2024-25 has been granted.
The formation of a special court at the district judge level in Chatra for the resolution of cases registered under narcotics has also been approved.
