The state cabinet on Wednesday cleared the proposal to install jammers at Patna's Beur Central Jail to prevent use of cellphones by inmates.

The project would cost Rs 6.5 crore. The contract has been awarded to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Bangalore-based organisation under the defence ministry.

The cabinet coordination department's joint secretary, Upendra Nath Pandey, didn't disclose a timeframe within which the company has to complete the project, but home department sources said the jammers would be in place by end of September.

"If the jammers help in checking use of cellphones in Beur jail, the project would be extended to other central jails in Buxar, Gaya, Motihari, Purnea and Muzaffarpur," a senior official said.

The move assumes significance in the wake of numerous complaints about unhindered use of cellphones by Beur central jail inmates.

The cabinet also approved the vigilance department's proposal to recruit retired officers in the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) on contract. Initially, 26 such officers would be recruited.

In another decision, the cabinet gave its go-ahead to the general administration department's proposal to promote officers of Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) from joint secretary to additional secretary rank in the pay scale of Rs 37,400-67,000.

The cabinet also decided to provide Rs 110.70 crore to the planning and development department for disbursing unemployment allowance to deserving youths in 2016-17.

The idea of giving unemployment allowances to youths is part of seven resolves of the state government. According to this resolve, youths in the age group of 20 to 25 years looking for employment would get Rs 1,000 monthly stipend as aid from the government for a period not exceeding two years.

A total of 14 proposals were taken up at Wednesday's cabinet meeting.