Prashant Kishore Proposes Lifting Liquor Ban to Fund Bihar’s Education System

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Prashant Kishore, the strategist behind the Jan Suraj Abhiyan, has been engaging with various sections of society ahead of October 2. As part of this outreach, Jan Suraj organized a ‘Shiksha Samvad’ with educationists in Bihar at Gyan Bhavan, Patna. During the discussion, Kishore made a significant statement on reforming the state’s education system, emphasizing the need for an additional capital investment of Rs 5 lakh crore, in addition to the Rs 50,000 crore the state government currently spends annually on education.

Kishore proposed that this additional investment could be raised by lifting the state’s liquor ban and securitizing the revenue from liquor taxes for the next 20 years. He clarified that this revenue should not be included in the state’s budget but should be exclusively allocated to building a stronger education system in Bihar.

He further stressed that the funds generated from the liquor tax should not be diverted for the security of politicians, helicopters, or furniture. Instead, the entire amount should be used solely for the education of children. To ensure this, Kishore suggested that a legal provision be made, guaranteeing that the revenue will only be used for educational purposes.

Kishore assured that the Jan Suraj manifesto will include a clear commitment that, if the liquor ban is lifted, all revenue from it will be directed toward improving the education system and securing a better future for the children of Bihar.