Nitish Govt Hikes Pay for School Cooks, Watchmen, and Health Instructors

Quick Summary

• Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar announced a notable hike in honorarium for cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors in government schools.
• Cooks under the mid-day meal programme will now receive ₹3,300 per month, up from ₹1,650.
• Night watchmen’s honorarium has been increased to ₹10,000 per month.
• Physical education and health instructors will now earn ₹16,000 per month; their annual salary increment raised from ₹200 to ₹400.
• The decision was announced months ahead of Assembly elections.
• Nitish Kumar emphasized this measure as part of continuous efforts since 2005 to strengthen Bihar’s education system with expanded budgets (₹4,366 crore in 2005 vs ₹77,690 crore now) and infrastructure improvements.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Nitish Kumar’s proclamation reflects two key priorities: improving working conditions for support staff critical to bihar’s education system and signaling progress ahead of impending Assembly elections. While doubling honorariums marks a tangible financial boost for employees like cooks and instructors reliant on modest wages, its timing may invite scrutiny for aligning closely with election preparations-a recurring trend in pre-election policy shifts across Indian states.

Though balanced against the broader context-budgetary expansion and infrastructure reinforcement-the move underscores consistent governmental focus on educational reform under Kumar-lead leadership as 2005. If implemented effectively without delays or bureaucratic hurdles common in such initiatives elsewhere, this could foster morale among frontline workers while contributing positively toward systemic improvements crucial for one of India’s most populous states.

Read more: The Hindu