Bihar polls: Contractual workers in govt to be made permanent if INDIA bloc comes to power, says Tejashwi Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday announced that all contractual workers engaged in various Bihar government departments and around 2 lakh 'community mobilisers' among 'Jeevika Didis' will be made permanent if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state.

Yadav also promised that these 'community mobilisers' will be given a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 if the opposition alliance forms a government in the state after the ensuing assembly polls.

Talking to reporters here, the RJD leader said that interest on loans which 'Jeevika Didis' have taken will be waived if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Bihar.

The state government is spearheading the World Bank-aided Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP), locally known as 'Jeevika', with the objective of social and economic empowerment of the rural poor. Women associated with the project are called 'Jeevika Didis'.

A 'community mobiliser' acts as a facilitator for self-help groups (SHGs). Their main responsibility is to facilitate SHG meetings, prepare books of records, and they are also responsible for the overall nurturing of such groups.

“All the contractual workers engaged in the government departments will be made permanent. The NDA government is not bothered about the welfare of 'Jeevika Didis' in the state...They are suffering like anything. I announce that if we are voted to power, we will make around 2 lakh 'community mobilisers' among 'Jeevika Didis' permanent government employees and will give them a salary of Rs 30,000 per month," Tejashwi said.

The former deputy CM also said the "interest on the existing loans of 'Jeevika Didis' would be waived, and the interest-free credit would be provided for the next two years", if the opposition bloc comes to power.

"Our government will also provide Rs 5 lakh health insurance cover to all 'Jeevika Didis' in the state. They will also be given an additional Rs 2000 as an allowance per month if they are engaged in other government activities," he promised ahead of the assembly polls.

According to estimates, more than 1.45 crore 'Jeevika Didis' are working in the state.

The RJD leader had earlier promised a government job for every household in the state "within 20 months of assuming power in the state".

He had announced that a "new law guaranteeing employment would be introduced within 20 days of forming the government", and the scheme would be "fully implemented across the state within 20 months of taking charge of the office".

"Nomination filing for the polls is over…. now full-fledged campaigning has started. This time, the people of Bihar have made up their minds for change. The people are fed up with this 'double-engine' NDA government. In this 'double-engine' government, corruption and crime have increased. People are frustrated with unemployment and migration”, Yadav alleged.

The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state.

Reacting to Yadav's announcements, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said, "The RJD leader is making false promises, and will never fulfil these. RJD leaders are least bothered about the people of the state. Why is he making such promises ahead of polls? He knows that people will not vote for them in the assembly elections."