Tejashwi Yadav Promises One Government Job per Family in Bihar

The upcoming Bihar Assembly elections have prompted a bold pledge from Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He has promised that if elected, his government will provide one government job for every family currently without a member in public service. This announcement arrives as Bihar grapples with rising unemployment, a pressing issue that has sparked various promises from competing political parties, including the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and newcomer Prashant Kishor with his Jan Suraaj initiative.

Ambitious 20-20 Implementation Plan

Yadav introduced what he calls a “20-20 formula” to implement this ambitious plan. He stated that within 20 days of forming the government, a law would be enacted to guarantee this job promise. Following this, he aims to ensure that every eligible family in Bihar is provided a government job within the next 20 months. Yadav characterized this commitment as “historic and transformative,” placing it at the forefront of his electoral campaign.

According to the Bihar Caste Survey 2023, the state has approximately 2.76 crore families. Out of these, only about 18 lakh individuals are currently employed in government positions. This suggests that around 2.58 crore families lack any government employee. To fulfill his promise, Yadav’s administration would need to create jobs for this vast number of individuals.

The Financial Reality

While the promise is ambitious, the financial implications are staggering. Bihar’s government currently allocates around Rs 54,000 crore annually for salaries. If Yadav were to provide government jobs to 2.58 crore individuals, with a minimum monthly salary of Rs 25,000, the annual salary expenditure would balloon to approximately Rs 7.7 lakh crore. This figure surpasses the total state budget of Rs 3.17 lakh crore by more than two and a half times. Analysts warn that such a proposal could lead Bihar towards financial instability, raising concerns about the practicality of employing such a large workforce when the state lacks sufficient positions and responsibilities to accommodate them.

Political reactions have been swift. Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Union Minister, likened Yadav’s promise to “offering farmhouses on the Moon and Mars,” indicating its unrealistic nature. Despite this criticism, Yadav asserts that his commitment is based on a “scientific study” rather than simply a campaign slogan. Critics, however, argue that he has yet to provide a clear implementation strategy.

The potential political ramifications of this promise are significant. Many young voters in Bihar view government jobs as symbols of stability, social respect, and financial security. Yadav’s pledge could resonate with this demographic, allowing him to capture their attention and dominate the electoral discourse. The current government, led by Nitish Kumar, claims to have created 8 lakh government jobs from 2005 to 2020, and an additional 10 lakh jobs are projected between 2020 and 2025.

While Yadav’s promise could reshape the political landscape in Bihar, experts caution that it remains more of a political slogan than an achievable economic policy. The feasibility of such a sweeping job creation initiative will continue to be a focal point in the lead-up to the elections, as voters assess whether this ambitious proposal can realistically be fulfilled.