On Tuesday the Bihar government, in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved the formation of a new commission for the welfare of sanitation workers, significantly increased pensions for retired journalists, and brought a historic religious fair under state management, reported PTI.
Bihar Govt Creates Sanitation Worker Commission, Hikes Journalists Pension
In a meeting ahead of state polls, the Nitish Kumar cabinet approved a series of measures aimed at social welfare, media benefits, and preserving cultural heritage.
The decisions come as the state prepares for assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
A key approval was for the constitution of the Bihar State Safai Karmachari Commission, a body aimed at the all-round socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers.
An official told PTI that the commission will work to ensure the "protection, welfare, rehabilitation, social upliftment, and grievance redressal" for these workers. The new body will consist of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and five members, including a woman or a transgender person.
In the same meeting, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Bihar Patrakar Samman Pension Yojana 2019, raising the monthly pension for retired journalists from ₹6,000 to ₹15,000.
Furthermore, in the event of a pensioner's death, their dependents will now receive a lifetime monthly pension of ₹10,000, a substantial increase from the previous ₹3,000.
The cabinet also decided that Munger's popular Sitakund Mela will now be organized under the supervision of the Bihar State Fair Authority. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the decision was made due to the fair's immense religious and cultural significance, reported PTI.
He noted that the month-long fair attracts lakhs of devotees from across the region and thousands of foreign tourists annually, and is held at the site where Goddess Sita is believed to have undertaken her 'Agni Pariksha' (trial by fire).
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