PATNA, June 25 -- The state government has set up a committee headed by the development commissioner to dole out financial assistance of Rs.2 lakh to around 94 lakh poor families, identified by the caste-based economic survey, in a phase manner. Chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena said that a decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. The committee, also comprising additional chief secretary, industries, rural development department and other senior officials, will look into the modalities of providing monetary assistance to the poor families for self-employment under the Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojna. This was among 46 decisions, which were discussed and approved at the cabinet meeting. "The cabinet also approved the proposal of enhancing the financial powers of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) to give administrative sanction of MG NREGA schemes up to Rs.10 lakh from the existing limit of Rs.5 lakh. The enhanced financial power would help PRI generate more employment to the people in rural areas," added Meena. Citing the CM's meeting with members of the PRIs and Jeevika volunteers in the recent past, the chief secretary said that the cabinet also approved the panchayati raj department's proposal of raising honorariums to elected members of the PRIs and Gram Kutcheries by 150%. "The hike will be effective from July. An additional sum of Rs.548.62 would be spent annually for this. Additionally, elected members of the PRI and Gram Kutcheries would be entitled for an ex-gratia grant of Rs.5 lakh from the date of election," added the chief secretary. Meena further said that the government has also decided to raise social security pensions of all categories to Rs.1,100 per person per month with effect from June. There are six types of social security schemes under which over 1.1 crore people are getting pension in the range of Rs.400-Rs.500. "They will now get Rs.1,100 per month," he said, adding that the state government would incur additional burden of Rs.9,202 crore annually. In another important decision, the cabinet gave its nod to construct marriage halls under "Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana" in all the 8,053 gram panchayats of the state. "The marriage hall will be constructed by gram panchayats at a cost of Rs.50 lakh each in all the 8,053 gram panchayats of the state. The marriage halls will be constructed in a phased manner within a period of five years beginning the current financial year," Meena said, adding that the exercise of constructing marriage halls would entail a total cost of Rs.4,026 crore. Its construction will help the common people for carrying out their social and cultural events that would ultimately help gram panchayats financially besides ensuring community unity and environment protection. The marriage halls will be run and maintained by village level organisation, Meena said. The rural development department's proposal for running "Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi" at the block level offices, has also been okayed by the cabinet....