Patna: The retirement age of doctors teaching in government medical colleges in Bihar will be raised to 65 years from 62 years. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Principal Secretary in the Cabinet and Coordination Department Afzal Amanullah told. This would benefit teachers of six medical colleges across the state. The government also released 40 crore for the payment of monthly TA/DA and other emoluments to representatives of the Panchayati Raj system during 2010-11, he said. Amanullah said in a bid to promote the sugarcane industry, the key industry since the bifurcation of Bihar in 2000, the government sanctioned 25.73 crore for sugarcane cultivation under which farmers would be provided subsidy of 100 per quintal for purchase of seeds, 15 for tranportation of seeds as well as inter-cropping, purchase of equipment and use of organic fertiliser. The government has also decided to provide 50 percent subsidy to farmers for using wastes of sugarcane industries and converting them into vermi-compost and organic fertiliser. The government also made available 10 crore to Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) as loan for energising 40 power sub-stations and upgradation of transmission and distribution system in the state. It sanctioned 2 crore to each of the 15 Maoist-affected districts in the for modernisation of the police force under the centrally sponsored scheme for it during the current fiscal. The Bihar cabinet also released over 89.58 lakh for helping weavers and those engaged in silk production in the state, Amanullah said.