Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal announced on Thursday, 12 June that the state government will appoint computer operator-cum-clerks in every panchayat across Bihar to strengthen and simplify the delivery of online revenue-related services at the grassroots level. The move is aimed at ensuring citizens can access critical land and revenue services without unnecessary delays, directly from their panchayat offices.

What the Announcement Covers

The declaration was made during the twelfth day of a departmental review meeting conducted via video conferencing from the Revenue and Land Reforms Department headquarters in Patna. During the session, Minister Jaiswal reviewed revenue administration performance in Darbhanga and Sheikhpura districts in detail.

'Computer operator-cum-clerks will be appointed in every panchayat so that online revenue services become more accessible and effective for the last person in the state,' Jaiswal said at the meeting.

Recruitment of 8,054 Revenue Staff Underway

Jaiswal also disclosed that a proposal for the recruitment of 8,054 revenue staff members has already been forwarded to the State Staff Selection Commission to address critical manpower shortages within the department. He said that adequate personnel would significantly speed up the disposal of cases related to mutation (dakhil-kharij), record correction (parimarjan), e-measurement (e-mapi), encroachment disputes, public grievances, and other revenue matters.

Encroachment Cases and Accountability Directives

The Minister directed officials to give top priority to encroachment-related cases and ensure all pending matters are resolved within stipulated timeframes. 'Unnecessary delays in public-related matters will not be tolerated under any circumstances,' Jaiswal warned, instructing officers to dispose of cases promptly and impartially in line with legal provisions.

He also announced that district-wise reviews will continue on a rotational basis every 15 days, with strict action promised against district officials where expected improvements are not observed. Officials were additionally directed to expedite work on encroachment removal, protection of government land, Parimarjan Plus, Abhiyan Basera-2, the Revenue Mega Campaign, public grievance redressal, Sahyog Shivirs (assistance camps), and cases pending in Revenue Court Management System (RCMS) courts.

Senior Officials and Departmental Oversight

Departmental Secretary Jai Singh echoed the Minister's directives, stressing the need for speedy disposal of pending cases and strict adherence to prescribed timelines. He called for accountability at every administrative level to ensure government services reach citizens without delay.

The review meeting was attended virtually by public representatives, District Magistrates, Additional Collectors, Deputy Collectors of Land Reforms (DCLRs), and Circle Officers from the concerned districts. Senior departmental officials present at the Revenue Headquarters included Seema Tripathi, Inayat Khan, Prashant CH, Mahendra Pal, and Aajiv Vatsraj.

What Comes Next

The appointment of panchayat-level computer operator-cum-clerks, combined with the pending induction of 8,054 revenue staff, signals a concerted push by the Bihar government to digitise and decentralise land administration — a long-standing pain point for rural citizens. Whether execution matches the ambition will depend on the pace of recruitment and the rollout of digital infrastructure at the block and panchayat levels.