What is the Grand Alliance’s ‘Tejashwi’s Pledge’ for Bihar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Government jobs for families within 20 days.
- Monthly stipends for women under ‘My Sister’s Honour Scheme’.
- Increased MNREGA wages from Rs 255 to Rs 300.
- Free health insurance of Rs 25 lakh for individuals.
- New degree colleges in 136 blocks.
Patna, Oct 28 (NationPress) The Grand Alliance unveiled its unified manifesto for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections, named “Tejashwi’s Pledge”, during a press briefing at the Maurya Hotel in Patna.
Representatives from all allied factions — including the RJD, Congress, Left, and VIP — gathered for the event.
The Leader of Opposition and RJD’s Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav emphasized the alliance's dedication to elevating Bihar to the top position in the nation.
“We stand by our commitments; we achieve what we promise. We will soon reveal our strategy to ensure government jobs for every household,” Tejashwi stated.
The Grand Alliance’s manifesto, “Tejashwi’s Pledge,” emphasizes key areas such as employment, women’s empowerment, social justice, education, healthcare, and support for farmers.
Among its proposals, the manifesto assures one government job per family, which is to be executed within 20 days of the government taking office.
Tejashwi also introduced the “My Sister’s Honour Scheme”, promising every woman a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 starting from December 1.
Additionally, Jeevika Didis (women SHG members) would be granted government employee status with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000; contractual and outsourced workers are to be made permanent; the old pension scheme will be reinstated in Bihar; households will receive 200 units of free electricity; farmers will have MSP guarantees and MNREGA wages will rise from Rs 255 to Rs 300 with 200 days of work; free health insurance of Rs 25 lakh per individual, super-specialty hospitals in every district, free transportation for students to exam centres, and exemption from fees for government exams, as well as new degree colleges in 136 blocks and women’s colleges in each subdivision; and an increase in reservations for OBCs and SC/STs to be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to the manifesto, Tejashwi also pledged Rs 500 LPG cylinders for low-income families, skill-based employment initiatives, the construction of five new expressways, pensions of Rs 1,500 monthly for widows and seniors (with an annual increase of Rs 200) and Rs 3,000 for individuals with disabilities, scholarships for 200 SC/ST students to study abroad, insurance of Rs 50 lakh for Panchayat and Gram Kachahari representatives; their honorarium will be doubled, and the age limit for compassionate appointments will be lifted.
Tejashwi Yadav also highlighted a Rs 5 lakh interest-free loan for a duration of five years to support self-employment for traditional artisans such as barbers, potters, carpenters, cobblers, and gardeners. He reiterated the alliance’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against crime and corruption, a pledge to halt the Waqf Amendment Bill, and to ensure transparent management of religious and community properties, including transferring control of the Bodh Gaya temples to the Buddhist community.
Filled with welfare-oriented and employment-focused initiatives, the manifesto seeks to present a comprehensive and development-oriented blueprint for Bihar as the 2025 Assembly elections approach.