- The transfer window has been extended until June 17th.
- This marks the first time the transfer deadline has been extended twice.
- This decision received cabinet approval
Bhopal, As the monsoon season draws near, with forecasts predicting its arrival in Madhya Pradesh after June 15th, the state is set for an extended “transfer season” for government employees. In an unprecedented move, the deadline for these transfers has been extended twice, now set for June 17th.
= Cabinet Greenlights Extension amidst Bureaucratic Tug-of-War
The decision to extend the transfer window was finalized during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Given the evident friction between officers and ministers over departmental transfers, it was clear that the original June 10th deadline simply couldn’t be met. This left an extension as the only viable option.
Interestingly, the School Education Department was initially cited as the reason for the delay, with claims that the transfer portal hadn’t been updated. However, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya admitted during a cabinet briefing that while he personally opposed the extension, the School Education Department’s issues inadvertently benefited other departments.
Despite the extensions, over a dozen major departments still haven’t finalized transfer applications. With over 150,000 applications received and an estimated 50,000 transfers pending, fewer than 5,000 have been completed so far. This stark reality led most ministers to push for another extension, which Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav approved, allowing government employees to be transferred until June 17th.
It’s worth noting that the ban on transfers was initially lifted on May 1st for a period until May 31st, then extended to June 10th at the ministers’ request. This marks the first time such an extension has been granted twice.
= New Roads to Connect Remote Hamlets: Chief Minister’s Mazra-Tola Road Scheme Approved
In a significant move, the cabinet has approved the Chief Minister’s Mazra-Tola Road Scheme, a massive initiative to bring all-weather paved roads to remote hamlets, villages, and settlements (Majra, Tola, Dhoni, Pura) that currently lack road access. Even locations with as few as 20 houses and a population of 100 will now be connected.
The scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs 21,630 crore, will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will run from fiscal year 2025-26 to 2029-30, followed by the second phase from 2030-31 to 2034-35, aiming to construct a total of approximately 30,900 km of roads.
Under the plan, any area with a minimum of 20 houses, a population exceeding 100, and an area larger than 6,000 square meters, which is not within 50 meters of an existing all-weather road, will be considered for connection. Priority lists will be generated at the assembly constituency level, based on decreasing settlement population.
= Boost for Tur Dal Industry: Mandi Tax Exemption for Imported Tur
To meet the demands of the state’s Tur dal (pigeon pea) industries, the cabinet has approved a proposal to completely exempt imported Tur from Mandi tax. This exemption is expected to ensure sufficient availability of Tur dal in the state, while also boosting transportation and creating more employment opportunities. A significant portion of the dal currently comes from Maharashtra.
= New Working Women’s Hostels for Enhanced Safety and Convenience
The cabinet has given its nod to construct four working women’s hostels with a combined capacity of 350 seats in Jhabua, Singrauli, Dewas, and Narmadapuram. These hostels aim to improve the lives of working women in these districts. The project, estimated to cost ?40.59 crore, will be operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
= District Development Advisory Committees to Chart Local Roadmaps
To foster comprehensive development at the local level, District Development Advisory Committees will be formed in all districts, headed by the Chief Minister. These committees will be tasked with preparing development roadmaps and long-term development plans for their respective districts.
This initiative follows directives from the fiscal year 2025-26 budget speech, which called for the formation of such committees across Madhya Pradesh. Each committee will have the district in-charge minister as vice-president, along with Members of Parliament, all district MLAs, the Mayor or Municipal President of the district headquarters, the District Panchayat President, and all Janpad Presidents. Additionally, 20 representatives from various sectors including industry, trade, progressive farmers, social workers, medicine, and law will be included as members. The District Collector will serve as the committee’s Member Secretary.
These committees will play a crucial role in charting a roadmap for district prosperity and will consider suggestions for better implementation of government schemes, taking into account local conditions.
