Patna: In a significant move aimed at improving the working conditions of women in the state workforce, the Bihar government has approved a new scheme that will provide residential accommodation to nearly four lakh women government employees across the state. The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, cleared the proposal on Tuesday, among 22 key decisions.
Under the scheme, the state will lease private housing near the employees’ place of posting — from panchayat offices to the state secretariat — and provide it free of cost to women staff. A five-member district-level committee, led by the district magistrate, will identify suitable properties based on availability and basic amenities like water, sanitation, and electricity.
The scheme is expected to benefit women employees across departments, including approximately 25,000 women in the police force. Any grievances related to housing will be addressed by the concerned sub-divisional officer (SDO). However, the scheme comes with a rider: those opting for government-provided accommodation will not be eligible for house rent allowance (HRA).
The move is being seen as both a welfare measure and a potential pitch to women voters and employees, with the state headed into elections later this year.
More Reforms Approved
Alongside the housing scheme, the cabinet approved the creation of 8,414 new posts, including 8,093 clerical positions in panchayats. These roles will support the growing administrative needs at the grassroots level, particularly around planning and record-keeping for local schemes.
Another key announcement was the approval of a ₹281 crore Mega Skill Centre. The facility will train 21,600 youth over the next five years in employable skills that match market demand. The program will include placement support through an independent cell.
The cabinet also cleared the formation of a sports injury unit at Patna’s Loknayak Jayaprakash Orthopaedic Hospital, creating 36 new roles and expanding the facility’s services. Additional posts have been created in agriculture, public health, and civil administration departments.
In another social welfare push, nine particularly vulnerable tribal groups will now be included under the PM Awas Yojana. Beneficiaries will receive ₹2 lakh in four installments for housing support.
These decisions reflect a wider effort by the Nitish Kumar government to address gaps in infrastructure, skill-building, and gender parity in public services — with an eye on both governance and political messaging ahead of the polls.
