Bihar Extends Reservation to 75%, CM Nitish Kumar Reviews Implementation

Patna: In a significant development, the reservation quota in Bihar has been elevated to 75%, with Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) now benefiting from 65% reservation in jobs and educational institutions. The new provisions, effective since Tuesday, were officially gazetted by the Bihar government.

Following the passage of the Reservation (Amendment) Act-2023, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened a high-level review meeting with officials from all departments on Tuesday evening to ensure the swift and effective implementation of the amended provisions.

During the meeting, CM Nitish emphasized that the caste-based survey, conducted with the consensus of all parties in Bihar, formed the basis for the reservation adjustments. The bill, passed unanimously by both houses, reflects a comprehensive consideration of the demographic and economic landscape of the state.

The Chief Minister directed officials to fully implement the provisions of the Reservation Act, ensuring expedited access to its benefits for the people. Notably, economic criteria were also factored into the calculation, resulting in a financial provision of Rs 2 lakh for every poor family and Rs 1 lakh for landless families to purchase land for housing.

Under the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme, each beneficiary will receive a benefit of up to Rs 2 lakh. With a current enrollment of 1 crore 30 lakh Jeevika Didi in self-help groups across the state, the government aims to connect 1 crore 50 lakh Jeevika Didis to these groups, extending the initiative to urban areas as well.

CM Nitish highlighted the government’s commitment to development with justice for all sections of society. Notable achievements include a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children and a targeted focus on girls’ education to positively impact fertility rates.

“Infrastructure development has been a priority, with the achievement of the target to reach Patna from any part of the state within 6 hours. The government is now working towards further reducing travel time to 5 hours,” the CM said.

Reflecting on environmental initiatives, CM Nitish noted that Bihar’s green cover has increased from 9% to over 15%, attributing the change to extensive tree planting efforts, including hilly areas. The Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali campaign promotes water conservation and greenery.

The Chief Minister highlighted achievements in electricity distribution, liquor prohibition, promotion of Neera production, and improvements in law and order.