The Maharashtra legislature has tightened the entry pass system for the winter session currently underway at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur and issued guidelines detailing the eligibility criteria, reported news agency PTI.
An official circular stated that entry passes will be issued strictly for the session period and only to eligible government officials, legislators` staff, security personnel on duty and authorised employees working for the Assembly or Council.
Contractors, canteen workers, daily wage staff and temporary workers will also require official permission to enter, said the order, reported PTI.
Security has been strengthened, and the police have been instructed to allow access only to those carrying valid session passes issued under the supervision of senior security officials.
As per the guidelines, one personal secretary, one special duty officer and one assistant from ministers` offices will receive full session passes. Departments may issue passes to a maximum of 30 officials and 20 staff members, and their names must be submitted in advance, said the order., reported PTI.
Officials assigned duties on a rotational basis during the session will receive daily passes, while permanent session-long passes will remain limited. The circular states that strict verification will be carried out at all entry points to prevent crowding and unauthorised access, the order said, reported PTI.
Pass distribution counters have been set up at Gate No. 18, the first building block of Vidhan Bhavan, and other designated spots within the premises. Departments and office-bearers have also been instructed to ensure passes are not misused or circulated without permission, the order said, reported PTI.
Maharashtra govt tables supplementary demands of Rs 75,286 crore
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government on Monday tabled supplementary demands of Rs 75,286.38 crore in the legislative assembly, with a major share of the proposed spending directed towards farmer relief, subsidies and social welfare schemes.
The state`s public debt currently stands at Rs 9.32 lakh crore.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar placed the supplementary demands before the House on the first day of the week-long winter session of the state legislature.
With the latest proposals, the total supplementary demands placed by the current government stand at Rs 1,73,019 crore.
The government has allocated Rs 15,648 crore for compensation and financial assistance to rain and flood-affected farmers, and Rs 9,250 crore for electricity tariff subsidies for agriculture pumps, power loom and handloom units.
The state has proposed Rs 15,721.08 crore for the revenue and forest departments. It has also allocated Rs 6,103 crore for the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women beneficiaries, and Rs 5,024.48 crore to the Women and Child Development Department for implementing other welfare schemes, as per the documents tabled in the House.
Further, the government has earmarked Rs 4,439.74 crore as the state`s share in the Centre`s long-term interest-free loan, Rs 3,500 crore for the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Rs 3,281.79 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat schemes, Rs 2,200 crore as a special grant to municipal bodies, and Rs 2,500 crore towards stamp duty cess refunds.
The government has also proposed Rs 9,205 crore for the industries, energy, labour and mining departments, and Rs 9,115.76 crore for the urban development department, ahead of elections to 29 civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
(With inputs from PTI)
