Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday approved a series of key decisions spanning welfare, energy, health and administrative sectors. The most significant among them was the approval to continue non-institutional child-care services under the Mission Vatsalya scheme for the next five years across all districts.
Briefing the media, Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla said that under the extended scheme, eligible children will receive Rs 4,000 per month as financial assistance.
Beneficiaries include children of widowed, divorced or abandoned mothers; orphans; children living with extended families; children whose parents suffer from life-threatening illnesses; and those whose parents are unable to provide physical or financial care.
The coverage further includes minors identified under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, as needing care and protection—such as homeless children, those affected by natural disasters, child labourers, victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation, children living with HIV/AIDS, child beggars, street children, runaway or missing children, children with disabilities, and minors facing abuse or neglect.
Additionally, children leaving childcare institutions upon turning 18 will be linked to employment-oriented skill training through the after-care component to support their economic rehabilitation, the deputy CM also said.
The scheme’s implementation will involve an expenditure of Rs 1,022.40 crore, of which Rs 408.96 crore will be borne by the state and Rs 613.44 crore by the Centre.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Pradhan Mantri Krishak Mitra Surya Yojana, allowing farmers with temporary electricity connections to opt for higher-capacity solar pumps.
Farmers with 3 HP connections may now opt for 5 HP pumps, while those with 5 HP connections may opt for 7.5 HP units. Beneficiary farmers will contribute 10% of the cost, with the government providing a 90% subsidy.
“The ministers of council approved 373 new posts and 806 on-call human resource positions for AYUSH hospitals across 13 districts, sanctioned revised Seventh Pay Commission benefits for Medico-Legal Institute officers,” Shukla added.
The Cabinet also approved recruitment rules for the MP Council of Science and Technology, cleared amendments to the Social Impact Bond scheme, and sanctioned nine new posts for the District Legal Services Authority in Agar-Malwa.