PATNA — In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday, the Bihar cabinet has given the green light to a series of ambitious projects and policy changes. These decisions, which come just months before the state’s assembly elections, are seen as a major push to address public concerns and enhance the state’s welfare and infrastructure.
One of the most notable approvals is the increase in the honorarium for 1.20 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers. Effective from September 1, anganwadi workers will now receive a monthly salary of ₹9,000 (up from ₹7,000), while helpers will get a raise to ₹4,500 (from ₹4,000). This initiative is expected to cost the government an additional ₹345.19 crore and is a fulfillment of a long-standing demand by the workers.
In a bid to improve administrative efficiency, the cabinet also approved the creation of 3,303 new posts of ‘revenue staffers’. This decision was made to tackle the rising number of ‘jamabandi’ (land record) cases and streamline the process for citizens.
Focus on Public and Social Infrastructure
The cabinet also sanctioned a number of projects aimed at strengthening public infrastructure and social welfare. A budget of ₹50 crore has been allocated for the phased construction of marriage halls in all 8,053 panchayats across the state. In a separate move, ₹280.60 crore was approved for the installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras in 176 new police stations to enhance security and transparency.
Furthermore, the government has given its nod for the establishment of LPG-based crematoriums in six cities: Patna, Gaya, Saran, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai, in collaboration with the Isha Foundation. One acre of land will be leased in each city for 33 years for this purpose.
New Schemes and Financial Approvals
In addition to infrastructure, the cabinet approved several new schemes:
- Mukhya Mantri Fellowship Yojana: This two-year program, implemented with IIM-Bodh Gaya, will appoint 121 “experienced specialists” to help formulate and implement public policies. Fellows will receive monthly stipends ranging from ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
- Jeevika Godhan Conservation and Management Scheme: This scheme is designed for the conservation and proper management of stray cows in the state.
To ensure the smooth functioning of these initiatives, the cabinet has also made significant financial decisions. It sanctioned ₹400 crore for the payment of outstanding electricity bills of urban local bodies and ₹594.56 crore for regional offices. Additionally, the corpus of the Bihar Contingency Fund was increased to ₹31,689.50 crore for the timely implementation of various schemes.
These approvals, encompassing a range of sectors from social welfare and public administration to infrastructure and urban development, are seen as a strategic push by the Nitish Kumar government to gain public favor ahead of the upcoming elections.