Nitish hikes the honorarium of supporting staff in government schools

Bihar – Honorarium & Social Welfare Hikes (July–August 2025)

Context: Ahead of Bihar Assembly elections, CM Nitish Kumar announced a series of hikes in honorarium and pensions to strengthen welfare measures.

🔹 Key Announcements

• Cooks (Mid-Day Meal Scheme): ₹1,650 ➝ ₹3,300

• Night Watchmen (Govt. Schools): ₹5,000 ➝ ₹10,000

• Physical Education & Health Instructors: ₹8,000 ➝ ₹16,000 (+ annual increment ₹200 ➝ ₹400)

• ASHA Workers: ₹1,000 ➝ ₹3,000 per month incentive

• Mamta Health Workers: Incentive doubled to ₹600 per delivery

• Old Age, Disabled & Widow Pension: ₹400 ➝ ₹1,100 (from 21 June 2025)

• Retired Journalists’ Pension: ₹9,000 ➝ ₹15,000

🔹 Significance

• Boosts morale of support staff in education system (cooks, night guards, PE instructors).

• Expands social security net for vulnerable groups.

• Seen as pre-election welfare push in Bihar.

• Education Budget rise: ₹4,366 crore (2005) ➝ ₹77,690 crore (2025).

🔹 Political Reactions

• BJP Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary praised the decision.

• JD(U) President Umesh Singh Kushwaha called it historic and a symbol of inclusive governance.