Bihar Cabinet approves policy to strengthen local bodies: Rediff Moneynews

Patna, Aug 6 (PTI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Bihar Preferential Procurement Policy 2024, which aims to support local industrial units and prioritise purchases from micro, small and start-ups in the state.

Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S. Siddharth said after the meeting that the decision was taken to provide maximum employment opportunities to the local people.

“The council in its meeting approved the Bihar Procurement Preference Policy 2024 to facilitate growth of local industrial units/enterprises in procurement undertaken by entities with special emphasis on micro and small enterprises and startups in Bihar. The proposal was submitted by the finance department of the state government,” Siddharth said.
He added that the aim of this policy is to increase the competitiveness of local industrial units/enterprises.
The eligibility criteria, Siddharth said, are that the entity must be registered in Bihar and have an office in the state. He added that the entity must be operating in the state for at least one year.
He added that the entity should have filed a GST return and paid it for at least a year.
The government also approved the state health department’s proposal to provide Rs 15 lakh assistance to children below 12 years of age from any income group suffering from beta-thalassemia major, a group of inherited blood diseases, he said.
Siddharth explained that the Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, will treat such patients.
The government also announced a reward for individuals and government officials who provide information about illegal mining in the state.
“The government has agreed to such a proposal. If it is found that illegally extracted minerals are being transported in tractors and the accused are arrested, then the person who exposes the irregularities will be given a reward of Rs 5,000. The reward will be Rs 10,000 if the vehicle used is a truck,” he said.
The government also gave the green light to the “Programme for the promotion of accommodation and breakfast services for the head of government 2024”, which is to provide tourists with better conditions at affordable prices.
Those interested will have to register their premises with the tourism department, Siddarth said.