Patna: In a significant move ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the Nitish Kumar government has announced a big increase in the honorarium of health workers employed on contract across the state. The decision, issued through a government order on Thursday, will benefit thousands of employees who are part of the state’s health machinery. Officials say the revision is aimed at recognising their contribution and ensuring greater motivation in the sector.
Under the new structure, the monthly honorarium of workers employed on approved posts has been raised from Rs 11,000 to Rs 21,000. The biggest rise has gone to technical staff such as lab technicians and X-ray technicians, whose pay has increased from Rs 37,000 to Rs 48,000. Senior radiographers will now receive Rs 58,000 per month, compared with Rs 37,000 earlier. Around 500 employees working in these categories are expected to benefit immediately from the hike.
This is part of a larger trend where the Bihar government has steadily increased honorariums in different departments over the past few months. Earlier, farmer advisors saw their honorarium increase from Rs 13,000 to Rs 21,000. Asha workers, who form the backbone of rural healthcare delivery, are now paid Rs 3,000 per month instead of Rs 1,000. Payments for Mamta workers assisting in childbirth have also doubled, from Rs 300 to Rs 600 per delivery. In addition, physical education teachers and mid-day meal cooks have also received higher allowances.
Analysts believe the timing of these announcements is not accidental. With the state heading for elections, such measures are being read as a strategy to secure the support of grassroots workers and their families. Health workers, in particular, hold influence in rural communities, where they act as the first point of contact between villagers and the health system. Their role during the Covid-19 pandemic and in routine maternal and child healthcare has made them a key part of Bihar’s public health network.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has frequently acknowledged the role of health staff in building a stronger system at the village level. He has often praised Asha and Mamta workers in his public addresses, calling them the “backbone” of health services in Bihar. By converting words into financial recognition, the government hopes to strengthen its bond with these employees at a crucial political moment.
