In a bid to shore up support ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a flurry of welfare schemes, including free electricity, higher honorariums for grassroots workers, and new commissions for sanitation staff.
BY PC Bureau
Patna, August 1, 2025 — In a calculated push ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has unveiled a slew of welfare measures benefiting a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, sanitation, and media. The latest in the series came on Friday, when he announced significant hikes in the honorarium for support staff in government schools.
The announcements, which have come in rapid succession over the past week, are seen as part of the ruling government’s effort to consolidate support among grassroots workers and low-income households, a strategy crucial for electoral success in a state heavily reliant on government welfare.
नवम्बर 2005 में सरकार बनने के बाद से ही हमलोग शिक्षा व्यवस्था में सुधार के लिए लगातार काम कर रहे हैं। वर्ष 2005 में शिक्षा का कुल बजट 4366 करोड़ रूपए था जो अब बढ़कर 77690 करोड़ रूपए हो गया है। बड़ी संख्या में शिक्षकों की नियुक्ति, नए विद्यालय भवनों के निर्माण एवं आधारभूत संरचनाओं…
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 1, 2025
Latest Announcements:
In a post on X, Nitish Kumar said:
“It has been decided to double the honorarium of cooks working under the mid-day meal program from ₹1,650 to ₹3,300. Night watchmen in secondary/higher education schools will now receive ₹10,000 instead of ₹5,000. Physical education and health instructors will also see their honorarium rise from ₹8,000 to ₹16,000.”
READ: Analysis: Can a Military-Led Myanmar Hold a Free and Fair Election?
This comes just two days after another major announcement concerning Asha and Mamata healthcare workers:
“Asha workers’ monthly incentive will increase from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000. Mamata workers will now receive ₹600 per childbirth delivery, up from ₹300,” the CM said, calling the move a tribute to their role in improving rural healthcare.
Earlier in the week, the state cabinet also approved a range of new initiatives covering electricity, employment policy, sanitation, and press freedom.
🗳️ All Poll Sops Announced by Nitish Kumar So Far (August 2025)
| Sector | Beneficiaries | Previous Benefit | New Benefit |
| Education | Mid-Day Meal Cooks | ₹1,650/month | ₹3,300/month |
| Night Watchmen (Secondary Schools) | ₹5,000/month | ₹10,000/month | |
| PE & Health Instructors | ₹8,000/month | ₹16,000/month | |
| Healthcare | ASHA Workers | ₹1,000/month | ₹3,000/month |
| Mamata Workers (Per Delivery) | ₹300/delivery | ₹600/delivery | |
| Power | Domestic Consumers | Paid up to 125 units | 125 units free per month |
| Media | Retired Accredited Journalists | Varying pensions | Hiked under journalist pension scheme |
| Jobs for Women | Bihar Women (domicile only) | 35% reservation (all) | 35% for Bihar residents only |
| Sanitation | Sanitation Workers | No commission earlier | Formation of State Sanitation Workers Commission |
READ: Jiribam and Imphal: Two Brutal Cases—One Fast-Tracked, the Other Forgotten
These moves underscore Nitish Kumar’s attempt to strengthen his social welfare legacy and position his government as responsive to grassroots demands. Political observers note that the combination of direct benefit transfers and sector-specific recognition mirrors strategies successfully used in other states to swing tight elections.
More policy measures are expected in the coming weeks as the campaign gathers pace.
