Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has announced that the remaining 73,000 contract teachers in the state will soon be given a chance to become permanent government teachers. He made this announcement during the budget session of the Bihar Assembly while speaking on the Governor’s address. Kumar said this decision would complete the long process of regularising contract teachers who have been working in government schools for many years. According to him, this step will strengthen the education system and bring stability to thousands of families.
While addressing the House, the chief minister spoke about how Bihar has changed since his government first came to power in 2005. He said that earlier people were afraid to step out of their homes after evening, communal tensions were common, and basic services such as education, healthcare and electricity were in very poor condition. Kumar claimed that now the situation is peaceful and people feel safe. He added that the government has worked to improve law and order and has taken steps such as fencing cemeteries and old temples to prevent conflicts and theft.
The chief minister said that education has been the main focus of his government. Since 2006, around three lakh contract teachers have been appointed in the state. To make them permanent, the government announced five special opportunities for them to qualify as government teachers through a simple examination process. Four rounds have already been completed, and about 2.66 lakh teachers have passed. Now, the remaining 73,000 teachers will get their final chance. Kumar also said that since 2023, about 2.58 lakh new government teachers have been recruited, taking the total number of government teachers in Bihar to more than 5.24 lakh.
Kumar also spoke about the improvements in the health sector. He said that earlier hospitals had very few patients because people did not trust the system. Now, on average, more than 11,000 patients visit primary health centres every month. He announced that Patna Medical College Hospital is being upgraded into a 5,000-bed hospital. At present, 12 medical colleges are running in the state, and 27 more are under construction. He said free medicines are now provided in government hospitals.
During his speech, the chief minister also criticised opposition leaders and accused them of not doing any real work when they were in power. He said his government has already provided 50 lakh jobs and employment opportunities and has set a new target of creating one crore jobs and employment in the next five years. At the end of the discussion, the Bihar Assembly passed the motion of thanks for the Governor’s address, marking the close of the debate.
