Bihar Polls: Tejashwi targets Nitish’s base with promises of govt job, Rs 30k salary for Jeevika Didis

With the high-stakes battle for Bihar heating up, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday raised the political temperature with a series of major poll promises targeting Jeevika Didis and contract workers, a significant socio-economic force in the state.

The promise is seen as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s carefully cultivated women voter base.

Advertisement

Tejashwi, in a strategic move to woo more than 1.35 crore women associated with the Jeevika scheme, pledged permanent government jobs, interest-free loans, insurance cover, and a guaranteed minimum wage.

Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Tejashwi said that Jeevika CMs (Community Mobilisers) would be made permanent employees, granted official government employee status, and paid a monthly salary of Rs 30,000.

Additionally, he promised that the interest on loans taken by Jeevika Didis will be waived, they will receive interest-free loans for two years, a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 will be provided for performing other government-related duties, and Jeevika cadre members will receive insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.

Presidents and treasurers of Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Village Organisations (VOs) will be given honorariums.

Tejashwi also announced the introduction of a ‘BETI Yojana’ and ‘MAA Yojana’, which will support girls from birth till employment, along with housing, food, and income support for mothers.

These schemes will be in addition to the proposed “Maai-Bahin Maan Yojana”, under which an INDIA bloc government would provide Rs 2,500 per month to women.

Tejashwi also pledged to make all contract and outsourced workers in Bihar permanent. He blamed corrupt officials for exploiting contract appointments to earn commissions through recruitment agencies.

The BJP was quick to hit back. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary ridiculed the promises, saying, “They are only known for selling dreams and looting the public. Tejashwi has promised about giving 2.7 crore government jobs, but during the RJD’s 15-year rule, his parents only looted Bihar. The whole family is infamous for looting and ruining the state.”

JD(U) State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha also dismissed Tejashwi’s promises, calling them a barrage of lies that would not influence voters. He reminded that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the Jeevika Scheme in 2006, just a year after taking office, and that it had since helped over 1.35 crore women rise out of poverty and into self-reliance through self-employment.