The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Cabinet has decided to grant arms licences to elected representatives of the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions following a string of attacks on local leaders ahead of assembly polls. It was among a host of decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The government has instructed all district magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) across Bihar to begin the process of issuing licences to the panchayat representatives.

However, the government said that applications for arms licences must be verified promptly and disposed of as per the law.

The move comes amid a string of political murders in Bihar. Last week, a panchayat head and his aide were shot dead in Bihar’s Lakhisarai.

In February, a JD(U) leader, Mahesh Mishra, was shot dead by armed assailants near his residence in Bihar’s Gaya district. Mishra was the block secretary of JD(U) and deputy ‘mukhiya’ of the Chiraila panchayat.

Last year, too, the head of a panchayat in Bihar’s Samastipur district was shot dead.

According to NCRB data, Bihar ranks only second behind Uttar Pradesh in deaths due to bullet injuries. Ahead of the elections, likely in November, Bihar police have sprung into action, scanning arms licences, and cracking down on illegal arms manufacturing units.

OTHER CABINET DECISIONS

Among other key decisions taken by the Cabinet include the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana’. The scheme entails the construction of marriage halls in every panchayat across the state.

The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 4,026.50 crore for the scheme, which will be implemented and operated through ‘Jeevika Didis’ – women’s self-help groups.

“Our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the weddings of daughters of poor families in rural areas. Economically weak families will benefit greatly from this initiative,” Nitish Kumar tweeted.

Moreover, the government’s community kitchen initiative, ‘Didi Ki Rasoi’, has also been revised, with the cost of subsidised meals reduced to Rs 20 from Rs 40 per plate.

The government also said that the subsidised meals would now also be provided beyond hospitals and colleges to block, and zonal offices as well.

– Ends

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