In a significant pre-election push, the Bihar cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved 22 major policy decisions on Tuesday, focusing on women’s welfare, healthcare reforms, and youth employment. The meeting saw the greenlighting of housing facilities for women government employees, the establishment of nine Mega Skill Centres, and stringent action against absentee doctors, among other initiatives.
A landmark decision was the approval of a policy to provide residential accommodations for women government employees near their workplaces. The move aims to ensure safety and convenience for female teachers, health workers, and other officials, particularly in rural areas. “This policy underscores our commitment to gender equality and women’s dignity at the workplace,” a senior official stated. The government plans to prioritize housing infrastructure in both urban and rural zones under the scheme.
Healthcare Reforms: Sports Injury Unit & Crackdown on Absentee Doctors
To bolster sports medicine, the cabinet sanctioned a 20-bed specialized sports injury unit at Patna’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, creating 36 new posts. The facility is expected to aid athletes, especially with the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 approaching.
In a stern move, seven government doctors were dismissed for prolonged absenteeism, continuing the administration’s drive to enforce accountability in the health sector. Earlier, 81 doctors had faced similar action.
The Bihar Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2025 were approved to digitize and streamline certificate issuance, easing access for citizens. Panchayat secretaries will play a key role in the revamped process.
Additionally, 8,093 new panchayat-level clerk posts were created to strengthen grassroots administration. The Bihar Gavya Cadre Recruitment Rules, 2025 were also cleared to accelerate hiring in the animal husbandry and fisheries sectors, aiding rural livelihoods.
Skill Development & Tribal Welfare
Nine Mega Skill Centres will be set up to train youths in employable trades, aligning with the government’s promise of generating 34 lakh employment opportunities.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Jatiya Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, housing and basic amenities will be provided to tribal communities, aiming at socio-economic upliftment.
While the Nitish Kumar government touted these decisions as “pro-people,” Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed them as “election stunts,” alleging poor implementation. With the 2025 Bihar polls nearing, the cabinet’s welfare-centric agenda is seen as a bid to consolidate the ruling coalition’s support base.
The sweeping reforms signal the state’s focus on governance, though their on-ground impact remains to be tested.
