Patna: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, declared on Wednesday that if the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) wins the state Assembly elections, all contract workers employed by the Bihar government and community organizers assisting the self-help groups (SHGs) under the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project would be made permanent.
In addition, he pledged to waive interest on earlier loans, provide Jeevika Didis or SHG members with interest-free loans for two years, and provide each of them with life insurance up to Rs five lakh. If the SHG workers are employed for any government-related task, they would receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2000.
The two-phase Bihar Assembly elections, which are set for November 6 and 11, coincided with what Tejashwi himself referred to as “historic” statements. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rolled out extensive sops for nearly every segment of society, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) plans to challenge him.
“All contract workers employed by the Bihar government would be promoted to permanent positions. There are currently between 1.5 and 2 lakh of these contract workers. During a hastily scheduled media appearance, Tejashwi stated, “The state government’s entire operation depends on them, but they have no job security.”
“We will relieve the contractual workers of the financial, emotional, and social strain they endure. In their avarice for commissions from the hiring agency, the dishonest bureaucrats did not make them permanent,” Tejashwi continued.
According to the RJD leader, the contract workers were severely exploited. According to him, they were employed by outsourcing firms, had their employment terminated without providing them with an explanation, and had monthly salary deductions of 18% GST (Goods and Services Tax).
He noted that there were roughly 1.5–2 lakh “community mobilizers” operating throughout the state as part of the Jeevika project.
“We have made the decision to provide them government positions in order to make them permanent. They would receive a monthly pay of Rs 30,000. This was something they had long demanded. During our yatra (tour) of the state, Jeevika Didis actually protested to us about their predicament and turned in memorandums everywhere we went,” Tejashwi said.
He went on to say that heads of block organizations and cluster level facilitators will receive the honorarium.
In addition, the RJD leader claimed that the Mahagathbandhan would carry out the ‘Mai-Bahin Yojana’, which would give Rs 2,500 a month to women who were beneficiaries. According to him, “Maa Yojana” will take care of the people’s shelter, food, and income needs, while “Beti Yojana” will guarantee the welfare of the girl child from birth to work.
One of CM Nitish Kumar’s main projects, Jeevika, is regarded as a pet project. With assistance from the World Bank and bank financing, it enabled the rural women to become small business owners. Furthermore, the central government was inspired to adopt it nationwide by its success.
There are currently about 10.6 lakh Jeevika SHGs in Bihar, with over 1.4 crore women members. These SHGs are frequently involved in carrying out several government welfare programs and are thought to be a significant source of support for Nitish in elections, which gives him an advantage over competing politicians.
Tejashwi had declared earlier this month that his government would give one government job to each household in the state without a government employee if the coalition won power. “We will bring an Act within 20 days of coming to power and fulfill it in 20 months,” Tejashwi continued.
In Bihar and at the center, the RJD leader also used the occasion to criticize the Nitish and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. He specifically criticized the chief minister’s latest SOP, which gave Rs 10,000 to women from all families in the state to begin working for pay with the possibility of additional assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh.
“The women have been bribed by Nitish and NDA. It is merely a loan and is of no assistance. This has been explained by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who referred to it as “seed money.” He continued, “The double engine government—the same political system at the state and federal levels—has caused poverty, unemployment, inflation, and migration for the people of Bihar.
Tejashwi noted that during the 17-month Mahagathbandhan government from August 2022 to January 2024, when he served as deputy chief minister, his actions resulted in contractual teachers being granted government employee status.
“I’ll fulfill my commitment. “I swear to do it,” he said.
In light of the impending Assembly election, the RJD leader further mentioned that the Mahagathbandhan will host a joint news conference on Thursday.
