Farmers’ views for budget plan

Patna: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Wednesday held a pre-budget consultation meeting with farmers from across the state to solicit their views, suggestions and opinion to be incorporated in the coming budget for 2013-14. Two farmers from all the 38 districts participated in the meeting which was attended by animal and fish resources minister Giriraj Singh and co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh and other officials of the departments concerned. he budget session of the Bihar Legislature will commence from February 18 and conclude on April 3. The session will witness the joint address of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council by Governor Devanand Konwar on February 15 and tabling of the economic survey on February 19 by the government. he budget for financial year 2013-14 will be tabled by the government on February 21. Voting on the budget will take place on March 1. The department-wise budgetary demand will be taken up from March 4. The government is also likely to table the third budgetary demand for the current financial year on March 15.

Passport adalat

Patna: A passport adalat was organised at the Regional Passport Office at Maurya Lok on Wednesday. Around 50 applicants approached the office with complaints. Most of the applicants requested faster police erification to cut down n the delay in handing ut the passport. In 2012, around 1.58 lakh applications were submitted, which include manual and online forms. Of this, around 1.47 lakh passports were issued.

Child rights

Patna: The chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Shantha Sinha, on Wednesday slammed the education department for not implementing the Right to Education Act properly till date. At the first day of the public hearing on child rights, she alleged that there were complaints from places like West Champaran and thers about teachers not attending schools and foodgrain meant for mid-day meals not reaching the institutes concerned.

Demise

Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on ednesday mourned the death of RJD MLC Ramchandra Prasad (73). The iling leader was in Bangalore for treatment.

Agri reports

Patna: The state agriculure commission on Wednesday submitted two reports o chief minister Nitish umar - one related to the problem and solution of seed production and the ther related to conservation of plants.

Teacher recruit

Patna: A high court bench on Wednesday directed the education department to complete the appointment process by March 20, 2013, in two subjects of mathematics and biology in high schools of the state. The court said the department should issue appointment letters to all the candidates by March 20.

ADB pat for state

Patna: An Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation led by Ms Widowati, director, transport & communication division, South Asian Department, ADB, Manila, on Wednesday called upon chief minister Nitish Kumar in the state capital. Ms Widowati apprised Kumar about the development work being done by Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd in the execution of ADB project and rated it to be one of the best in the country.

Power raids

Patna: Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd deputy general manager (public relations) H.R. Pandey on Wednesday said a team of officials raided and detected 25 cases of power theft at various buildings in districts of Gaya, Bhojpur, Banka and Patna. The power company has imposed a fine of Rs 12.02 lakh on the 25 premises.