Patna, Oct 22—Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday announced that all contractual workers in Bihar government departments and around 2 lakh ‘community mobilisers’ among ‘Jeevika Didis’ will be made permanent if the INDIA bloc comes to power.
Speaking to reporters, Yadav said the mobilisers, who facilitate self-help group (SHG) meetings, maintain records, and nurture SHGs under the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP), will also receive a monthly salary of Rs 30,000. “All the contractual workers engaged in government departments will be made permanent. The NDA government is not bothered about the welfare of ‘Jeevika Didis’. They are suffering. We will change that,” he said.
Yadav added that interest on loans taken by Jeevika Didis would be waived, and interest-free credit would be provided for the next two years. The scheme would also include Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage for each mobiliser and an additional Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for work in other government activities.
The Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project, supported by the World Bank, aims to empower rural women socially and economically. More than 1.45 crore women are associated with the project in the state.
On broader governance promises, Yadav reiterated his earlier pledge to provide a government job for every household within 20 months of assuming office. “A new law guaranteeing employment will be introduced within 20 days of forming the government,” he said.
Criticising the current administration, he said, “People are fed up with this ‘double-engine’ NDA government. Corruption and crime have increased, and unemployment and migration are major concerns.”
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary dismissed the promises as “false” and questioned their feasibility. “RJD leaders are least bothered about the people. Why make such promises ahead of polls?” he said.
