PATNA, June 13 -- Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, the NDA government headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday increased the limit of giving administrative approval of schemes in MNREGA for the head of the Gram Panchayats from the existing Rs.5 lakh to Rs.10 lakh. The government also announced to increase the monthly allowance of representatives of all levels of Panchayati Raj institutions by one and a half times. With this announcement, Mukhiyas and Sarpanchs would now be getting Rs.7,500 per month as against Rs.5,000 earlier whereas Ward members and Panchs would be getting Rs.1,200 per month as against Rs.800 per month earlier. Their remuneration was earlier hiked last year (2024) from Rs.2,500 per month to Rs.5,000 per month for mukhiyas and Sarpanchs. Similarly, Ward members and panch salaries were raised from Rs.500 to Rs.800. The proposal would now go to cabinet for clearance. There are 8,062 panchayats in Bihar. The announcement was made after Kumar held a meeting with the delegation of representatives of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad under Panchayati Raj system to discuss their pending demands. "We have been informed about your demands by the Chief Secretary and departmental officials. The Panchayati Raj Department is taking action as per rules in relation to most of your demands, out of which your important demand is, I make the following announcement regarding them," said the CM during the course of the meeting. Kumar announced that the head of the Gram Panchayats has the power to give administrative approval of schemes up to Rs.5 lakh in MNREGA scheme till now. An order is being given to increase this limit to Rs.10 lakh. He also said than an order is being given to increase the monthly allowance of representatives of all levels of Panchayati Raj institutions by one and a half times. The CM said that earlier, the Panchayat representatives were given an ex- gratia grant of Rs.5 lakh only in case of accidental death. Now an order is being given to give an ex gratia grant of Rs.5 lakh even in case of normal death of Panchayat representatives during their tenure. Also, if Panchayat representatives are suffering from illness, then an order is being given to provide them health facilities from the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund. Kumar said that the government has set the target that Panchayat government buildings should be completed in all the Gram Panchayats of the state before the elections to be held this year. For this, the state government has also approved the remaining 1069 new Panchayat government buildings. "An order is being given to give the responsibility of construction of these approved Panchayat Government Buildings to the Gram Panchayat. For this, if the land is not available in the village of the headquarters, then land can also be taken in the nearby village. I hope that you will select the land soon and start the work and the construction of Panchayat Government Buildings will be completed before time," Kumar said during the course of the meeting. In another important announcement, the CM said that the District Officer will take action to execute the application for arms license of Panchayat representatives as per rules within the prescribed time limit and to speed up the use of the amount of 15th Finance Commission and State Finance Commission received by the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions, schemes up to Rs.15 lakh can be implemented departmentally. Kumar reminded the Panchayat representatives about the work done for women. "In the year 2006, 50 percent reservation was given to women in the Panchayati Raj institutions and in the year 2007 in the Municipal Corporation elections. We have done a lot of work for the upliftment of women. A large number of women are leading the society by becoming representatives. We have worked for the development of all sections," he said....