Patna: All block offices in Bihar with crumbling infrastructure will have new buildings within a year, Rural Development Minister Sharwan Kumar announced on Saturday.
Addressing a day-long orientation programme for Block Development Officers (BDOs) organised by the Rural Development Department in Patna, Minister Kumar said the government was committed to strengthening grassroots administration by providing better facilities. “We are going to construct new buildings for all the block offices whose structures are in a dilapidated condition across the state,” he said, adding that except for the Patna Collectorate, no district collectorate building could match the quality of the state’s block offices.
The orientation focused on improving implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan. Minister Kumar also honoured select BDOs from all 38 districts for their work under PMAY(G) and handed over vehicle keys to some as part of government efforts to equip officials better. In total, 422 BDOs received new vehicles on Saturday, following the distribution of 112 vehicles earlier in March.
The minister urged BDOs to work diligently, maintaining clean and well-lit block offices, coordinating closely with Circle Officers and other officials, and ensuring that government welfare schemes reach legitimate beneficiaries. He cautioned against irregularities, pointing to instances where individuals with multi-storey homes had wrongly received PMAY-G benefits. “Such things will not happen if you remain alert,” he said, highlighting the role of data entry operators and stressing the need for vigilance.
Reflecting on progress, Minister Kumar noted that when he first took charge as Rural Development Minister, over 30 lakh cases under the Indira Awas Yojana were pending. Today, the number stands at around 90,000 to 92,000. With continued effort and cooperation from banks, he expressed optimism about reducing the backlog further to 30,000–35,000.
Department Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, addressing the gathering, emphasised the pivotal role BDOs play in driving development at the grassroots. Singh highlighted the technological and infrastructural improvements available today compared to previous decades, noting that while facilities had increased, so too had public expectations.
Panchayati Raj Department Secretary Divesh Sehara also made a presentation on the Dr Ambedkar Samagra Sewa Abhiyan, launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on April 14 to deliver 22 essential government services to more than 60,000 SC/ST hamlets. Sehara urged BDOs to work actively to uplift deprived communities and to ensure close monitoring of data to improve service delivery.
Presentations on PMAY(G) were also made by the department’s joint secretary, CEO of JEEViKA Himanshu Sharma, and MGNREGA Commissioner-cum-Additional CEO of JEEViKA Abhilasha Kumari Sharma.
