Jaipur: The state cabinet on Monday approved the proposal to create a Vidhan Parishad, as was announced by chief minister Ashok Gehlot in his budget speech last month. The cabinet also approved a series of other proposals, including setting up of the Rajasthan Water Resources Regulatory Authority (RWRR), clearing the State Differently abled People’s Policy 2012, setting up of the Rajasthan Rehabilitation and Research Institute for implementing special schemes, clearing the Rajasthan Rehabilitation of Beggars and Indigents Bill-2012 and the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Bill 2012. The cabinet also approved allowing permission for mining iron ore in Karauli district’s Hindaun region to Messer Super Smelters Ltd. The government said the mining permission would pave way for setting up of a steel plant in the state and increase employment opportunities here. The proposed water resources regulatory authority would be tasked to prepare a comprehensive water use and sharing scheme on the basis of annual availability of water resources and the water demand in the state. The scheme so prepared would be in accordance with the state’s water policy and the proposed authority would coordinate with other agencies in the state to prepare a hydro-metrological data for Rajasthan. The ultimate aim of the proposed authority would be ensure conservation and management of water resources so that the state’s scarcity areas start getting regular supply of drinking and irrigation water. The authority would also oversee the government funds released for the scarcity areas are used for arranging water to these areas. The approved policy for differently abled people aims at providing immediate benefit of the government’s special schemes for development and security of the needy and targeted sections of society. The highlight of the policy would be participation and representation of the target-group people in the formation of future schemes and policies for themselves. The proposed Rajasthan rehabilitation and research institute would be formulating training modules and regulate employment-oriented training facilities. The institute would also provide higher and technical education to the differently abled people and award them certificates, degrees and diplomas. The draft bill for rehabilitation of beggars and indigents would be present in the next assembly session. The bill would ensure setting up of rehabilitation homes for beggars, who would then be able to get free medical, food, clothes and residential facilities through NGOs. Cabinet approvals • Creation of a Vidhan Parishad • Iron-ore mining in Hindaun • Rajasthan water resources regulatory authority • Rajasthan Rehabilitation and Research Institute • Rajasthan Rehabilitation of Beggars and Indigents Bill-2012 • Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Bill 2012