Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a major hike in honorarium for support staff in the state’s education system, including mid-day meal cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors, today. The decision, which effectively doubles their current payments, is being seen as a significant move aimed at strengthening the state’s educational infrastructure and boosting employee morale.
Taking to social media, CM Nitish Kumar said, “Since the formation of the government in November 2005, we have been continuously working to improve the education system. In 2005, the education budget was ₹4,366 crore, which has now increased to ₹77,690 crore.” He added that the improvement in Bihar’s education system is largely due to the appointment of a large number of teachers, construction of new school buildings, and overall development of infrastructure.
Acknowledging the contribution of auxiliary staff, Kumar said, “Cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors have played an important role in strengthening the education system. Keeping this in mind, we have decided to double their honorarium.”
Revised Honorarium Structure
According to the announcement:
- Mid-day meal cooks will now receive ₹3,300 per month, up from ₹1,650.
- Night watchmen in secondary and higher secondary schools will receive ₹10,000, compared to the earlier ₹5,000.
- Physical education and health instructors will now earn ₹16,000 per month, up from ₹8,000. Their annual increment has also been doubled from ₹200 to ₹400.
The chief minister emphasized that the move aims to “raise the morale of these dedicated workers, ensuring they carry out their responsibilities with increased enthusiasm and commitment.”
