Patna: In a significant move to enhance educational opportunities for students from marginalized communities, the Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes Welfare Department, Bihar organized a one-day state-level review meeting and workshop at the Jagjivan Ram Parliamentary Study and Political Research Institute, Patna. The meeting was presided over by Hon’ble Minister Ramaa Nishad and witnessed the participation of senior officials from across the state.
Historic MoU with IIT Kanpur for ‘Sathi’ Program
In a landmark development, the department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur to implement the “Sathi” program. The agreement, signed at 4:30 PM, aims to provide world-class coaching facilities for girls studying in other backward class (OBC) residential +2 high schools across Bihar. The program will prepare students for competitive exams like JEE and other IIT entrance tests, offering them the opportunity to access top-tier educational resources.
Prior to the signing, the IIT Kanpur team conducted a special training session for principals and nodal officers, ensuring the effective implementation of the program and familiarizing school authorities with the new coaching methodologies.
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Key Decisions and Directives from the Review Meeting
During the afternoon session, Minister Ramaa Nishad and the Principal Secretary conducted a detailed review of the department’s welfare programs and issued directives to strengthen administration and service delivery. Key points discussed included:
- Strengthening Residential Schools: A thorough assessment of 39 OBC girls’ residential +2 schools across the state was conducted to ensure optimal functioning and infrastructure support.
- Livelihood-Based Operations (Jeevika): Officials were instructed to manage messes, sanitation, and other operational activities efficiently. The Minister emphasized that students should not face any difficulties in receiving clean clothes and nutritious food.
- Enrollment and Education Quality: Enrollment status and quality of education in the schools were reviewed. The Minister stressed the need to improve teacher quality and promised that all necessary measures would be taken.
- Ongoing Construction Projects: Officials were directed to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing construction and development projects within the department.
- Financial Discipline and Utilization Certificates: The Minister expressed concern over pending utilization certificates (UCs) and audit compliances, directing officials to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
- Hostel Management: Guidelines were issued for the renovation of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Welfare Hostels and other OBC hostels, with a focus on mess operations and provision of safe drinking water for students.
Minister’s Address to Officials
In her address, Minister Ramaa Nishad highlighted the importance of active and prompt administration. She said, “Every issue related to the department will be resolved swiftly, but this requires officers to work proactively in the field.” She further directed officials to accelerate welfare schemes so that benefits reach the last person in society effectively.
Attendance and Participation
The meeting saw participation from senior officials, including the Principal Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, as well as divisional deputy directors, district backward and extremely backward class welfare officers, principals, and other senior officers from across Bihar.
The MoU with IIT Kanpur under the “Sathi” program represents a major step towards empowering students from backward communities through quality education and competitive exam preparation. With strong administrative oversight and focused implementation, the Bihar government aims to ensure that education and welfare initiatives reach students effectively, creating opportunities for social and academic advancement.
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