Bihar – Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has announced a sweeping package of welfare schemes ahead of the state assembly elections, including 125 units of free monthly electricity for consumers. The announcement represents a significant policy shift for the longest-serving chief minister, who had previously opposed freebie culture but now seeks to counter opposition promises of 200 units of free electricity.
The Bihar CM Nitish Kumar administration has rolled out multiple populist measures designed to appeal to various voter segments, prompting sharp criticism from the opposition INDIA bloc, which claims these announcements merely copy their own electoral promises after 20 years of NDA governance in the state.
Free Electricity and Digital Infrastructure Support
The centerpiece of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s pre-election package includes providing 125 units of free monthly electricity to consumers, directly challenging the opposition’s promise of 200 units. This marks a notable departure from his earlier anti-freebies stance, reflecting the political pressures of upcoming electoral competition.
Additionally, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announced that over 10,000 ‘Vikas Mitras’ working in villages to connect SC and ST communities with government schemes will receive a one-time allowance of ₹25,000 each for purchasing tablets. These grassroots workers will also see their monthly transportation allowance increased from ₹1,900 to ₹2,500, while their stationery allowance rises from ₹900 to ₹1,500.
Educational and Community Worker Benefits
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s government has allocated ₹10,000 each to more than 30,000 Shiksha Sevaks and Talimi Markaz workers for purchasing smartphones. These education facilitators work specifically with children from Mahadalit, minority, and extremely backward communities to connect them with formal school education systems.
The Bihar CM Nitish Kumar administration has also announced increased honorariums for Jeevika, Anganwadi, and ASHA workers, recognizing the crucial role these community health and development workers play in rural areas. These announcements aim to strengthen the grassroots implementation network for government programs.
Enhanced Pension and Unemployment Support
Earlier policy decisions by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar included increasing pensions for senior citizens, widows, and people with disabilities by ₹700 per month in June. On July 11, the chief minister directly transferred the enhanced pension amount of ₹1,100 to bank accounts of 1.11 crore beneficiaries under six social security schemes.
A significant new initiative from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s government includes unemployment allowances for youth: ₹1,000 per month for two years for graduates and those who have completed class 12 but remain unemployed. This direct financial support addresses one of the state’s most pressing challenges of youth unemployment.
Women Entrepreneurship and Worker Welfare
Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s administration will provide ₹10,000 as the first installment to women entrepreneurs, followed by ₹2 lakh after assessing their business initiatives. This program specifically targets women’s economic empowerment and self-employment opportunities.
The government has also announced a ₹5,000 clothing allowance for 16 lakh construction workers, addressing the welfare needs of one of the state’s largest informal sector workforces. These announcements demonstrate Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s attempt to appeal to working-class voters across various occupational categories.
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Opposition Response and Political Implications
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary sharply criticized Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s announcements, stating that NDA leaders are “simply copying our welfare agendas.” The opposition claims that Bihar’s youth want to remove this “copycat and useless government” and make RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav the next chief minister.
Tiwary argued that the youth of Bihar have resolved to remove the “old rickety government” after the assembly polls, positioning these welfare announcements as desperate pre-election measures rather than genuine policy initiatives.
JDU Defense and Development Claims
JDU national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad defended Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as “a visionary leader” who has worked tirelessly for comprehensive development across all sections of society, including women, youth, and socially weaker sections.
Prasad claimed that Bihar has witnessed tremendous infrastructural growth over the past 20 years under Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s leadership, providing corruption-free governance where the rule of law prevails. He emphasized that recent cabinet decisions, including promises of one crore jobs and employment opportunities over the next five years, will make Bihar “the growth engine of the East.”
Electoral Strategy and Timing
The timing of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s welfare announcements reflects the intensifying competition ahead of assembly elections. These measures represent an attempt to neutralize opposition promises while appealing to key voter demographics including youth, women, workers, and marginalized communities.
The comprehensive nature of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s welfare package suggests recognition that the upcoming elections will be highly competitive, requiring substantial policy concessions to maintain voter support after two decades in power. The success of these announcements in translating to electoral victory remains to be tested at the polls.
