CM Nitish Kumar sanctions ₹802 crore cash handout for 16 lakh registered construction workers

Patna, September 18, 2025 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a major welfare measure: a ₹802 crore cash assistance scheme will be rolled out to benefit 16 lakh registered construction workers in the state. The announcement, made on September 17, 2025, is intended to offer financial relief to one of the more economically vulnerable labor sectors, ahead of both festival seasons and expected inflationary pressures. These 16 lakh workers are those registered under the relevant state labor welfare boards, who often lack steady incomes due to the informal nature of much of their work. The move is seen as recognition of economic hardships faced by daily wage earners—especially in construction, where work is typically seasonal and payments can be delayed. By distributing the aid before festivities like Diwali, the government aims to help workers in meeting additional expenses associated with the season. The decision comes at a politically sensitive time, with assembly elections approaching in Bihar. Several welfare schemes have become focal points in public discourse. In this context, the cash handout can also be viewed as reinforcing the state government’s image of pro-poor governance. However, officials have emphasized that the measure is primarily designed to address socioeconomic challenges, not political optics. Implementation logistics are expected to involve direct transfer to registered workers’ bank accounts. The Bihar government has prior experience with such transfers, which should help in ensuring the funds reach beneficiaries promptly. There is also likely oversight planned to prevent pilferage or misallocation. Advocates of labor rights have welcomed the move, saying that while the amount per worker may not be very large, it is significant given the number of beneficiaries and the timing. The hope is that this assistance will provide short-term relief in costs of living—such as rising prices of food, clothing, and energy—while giving these workers breathing space to manage expenses during the festival season. Meanwhile, there are calls for similar assistance to extend to other vulnerable informal sectors—such as day laborers, domestic workers, and agricultural laborers—who often do not have registration and hence may be excluded. The government has so far confined this scheme to construction workers under registration, but there is public pressure to expand the scope