New Delhi: Ahead of the Bihar elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance are showering, or promising to shower sops galore to win over the voters.
The NDA last week launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, with Rs 10,000 direct bank transfers (DBTs) into over 75 lakh bank accounts, while the Grand Alliance is promising a 10-point programme focused on education and employment reservation for the economically backward classes (EBCs).
The NDA has dubbed the DBT of the Nitish Kumar-led government to over 75 lakh women as the “Brahmastra”. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy, Samrat Chaudhary joining him. The Rs 7,500-crore “Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana” is an initiative of the Bihar government aimed at promoting women’s empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities.
The NDA government in Bihar, in the last cabinet meeting ahead of the polls, increased the monthly honorarium for contractual Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) workers in urban areas from Rs 11,500 to Rs 15,000. The decision was taken during the meeting chaired by Nitish Kumar on Friday, which saw the approval of 129 proposals in total. The cabinet also doubled the annual scholarship for Class 9 and 10 students belonging to the general category (including minorities) under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship scheme. The scholarship amount has been increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,600 per student, resulting in an estimated additional annual expenditure of Rs 99.21 crore.
The cabinet also gave its nod to the establishment of the Bihar Film and Theatre Institute, designed to address the lack of institutional training in film and theatre arts in the state.
On the other hand, Mahagathbandhan partner Congress, on September 24, announced a 10-point programme focused on education and employment reservation for EBCs. It promised immediate implementation if it forms government as part of the Mahagathbandhan. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, shared the details in Patna, where the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had met. The launch of the promise document for the “Ati Pichhda” or EBCs was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as well.
According to the 2023 Bihar Caste Survey, EBCs constitute 36% of the state’s population, making them the largest single social group in Bihar.
The Congress announced an “Extremely Backward Classes Atrocities Prevention Act”, specifically for the EBCs, apparently along the lines of similar laws already in place nationwide for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST). It also promised reservation in all private educational institutions of the state under Article 15(5).
Congress also announced reservation for EBCs to be increased to 30% in panchayats and urban local bodies from the current 20%. Other promises include surpassing the 50% reservation limit and moving towards quotas as per the proportion of population. It stated that a law will be passed for this by the state legislature, and be sent to the Central government for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This Schedule contains a list of Central and state laws that are essentially immune from judicial review.
The Congress resolution also said the concept of “Not Found Suitable” (NFS) in the selection process for appointments will be declared illegal. Further, all matters related to under- or over-inclusion on the list of Extremely Backward Classes will be resolved by forming a committee, the Congress promise letter said.
It also promised to landless individuals from the EBC, SC, ST, and BC categories three decimals of residential land in urban areas or five decimals in rural areas, as applicable.
Under the Right to Education Act 2010 passed by the then Congress-led UPA government, of the seats already in private schools, half will be kept for EBC, SC, ST, and other backward classes, the party resolution said. In government contracts worth up to Rs 25 crore, a provision of 50% reservation will be made for these communities, it added. To govern the implementation, a high-powered Reservation Regulatory Authority will be established, it added, and that any changes to the reservation list of castes will only be possible with the permission of the legislature.
In a state deeply influenced by caste among other identity markers, the Congress pitch is in line with Rahul Gandhi’s focus on the politics of “social justice” since before 2022. Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram said that the promises made by the party and Rahul Gandhi hold prominence “as we will deliver it like we have done in other states”.
Stressing on the party’s promise to provide three and five decimal land to landless people in the state, he said, “Even NDA promised to provide land to the poor and marginalised. But the promises remained only on paper. Once we are voted to power, these decisions will be implemented in the first cabinet meeting.”
He also said that a special team will be formed to chalk out the details of these programmes and then all these promises will be delivered like the party has done in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.
