Committed to welfare of SCs/STs, says CM Nitish Kumar

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday said he would do whatever is possible under his authority to empower the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (SC/ST) people and to bring forward the “most backward people of the backward state”.


“Ever since I came to power in Bihar, my mission has been development with justice for all sections of the society in the state. I am not a man who backtracks from the mission. I will do whatever possible under my authority as the CM for the progress and empowerment of the SCs/STs. We will also do what can be done from the state legislature to protect the rights of these communities,” Nitish said in response to certain demands raised by some dalit representatives at the concluding session of a two-day ‘development conclave of SC/ST’ here.

“Despite the provision of reservation, the representation of SCs/STs is very low in government jobs. People from these communities fail to qualify the civil services because of prevailing inequalities in the society,” said Nitish, who is also the JD(U) president.

Recounting his government scheme to provide Rs1 lakh to all SC, ST and extremely backward class (EBC) candidates on clearing the preliminary tests for the UPSC’s main civil services examination and Rs50,000 after clearing the PT for the BPSC main civil services examination, Nitish said, “It was done to ensure that more members from these deprived communities join the civil services.”

Crusader for social justice and retired IAS officer P S Krishnan sought the CM’s cooperation in bringing equality for the SC/ST. Krishnan also submitted to the CM a 32-page road map for empowerment of the SC/ST people. He also submitted the copy of a draft for separate Budgetary provisions for SCs/STs in proportionate to their population. Nitish said assured him that he would take necessary decision in this regard. “But the proposed legislation has to be passed from Parliament,” Nitish said.

JD(U) MLC Ashok Choudhary, who played a key role in organizing the conclave, lauded Nitish for taking steps to empower SC/ST people in the state. Choudhary called upon the SC/ST members to be educated and unite to get their due rights in the country.

Academicians, bureaucrats, social activists, researchers and Dalit entrepreneurs from across the country participated in the conclave, which was jointly organized by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DIKKI), the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI) and the Patna-based A N College.