The Bihar Government on Wednesday announced an incentive of Rs10,000 to each student of upper castes passing matriculation exam with first division. Earlier, this scheme was only for the students of minorities, Dalits and extremely backward castes.
Making this statement in Bihar Assembly, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said this scheme has been extended to the students of upper castes whose family income is less than Rs1.50 lakh per annum. He said this recommendation had been made by the Upper Caste Commission and also announced to give the children of upper castes families, with an income of less than Rs1.50 lakh per year, scholarship from Class I to X.
The announcement has been made to appease the upper castes and to get their support in the election. Nitish after divorcing the BJP was apprehensive of losing the votes of upper castes. With this decision he has attempted to keep them in good humour. In another major policy decision, the CM announced that his Government was moving in the direction of regularising the services of personnel on contract in different departments.
“A high level committee will be constituted to study the pros and cons of regularizing the services of contract workers from all angles and make recommendations. The chairman of this committee will be retired chief secretary and the principal secretaries of finance, education, health, road construction, water resources and law departments will be its members while principal secretary of general administration department will be its member secretary. The committee will give its report to the Government in three months,” the CM announced.