Bihar CM Nitish Kumar hikes social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 for widows, elderly, and disabled persons ahead of elections. Over 1.09 crore citizens to benefit from July. The move aims to counter Opposition promises and boost NDA’s pro-poor image.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a substantial increase in the state’s social security pension scheme. The monthly pension for widows, elderly citizens, and people with disabilities has been raised from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. The new amount will be disbursed starting July and will reach over 1.09 crore beneficiaries across the state.
Announcing the decision via social media platform X, CM Nitish Kumar wrote, “I am happy to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, widowed women, elderly and disabled people will now get Rs 1,100 per month instead of Rs 400. The increased pension amount will be disbursed from July onwards.”
The pension will now be distributed on the 10th of every month. The decision is widely seen as a strategic political move to bolster the government’s image as pro-poor and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities, especially with the state elections just four months away.
Focus on Women and the Marginalized
The announcement comes in the backdrop of an intensive outreach campaign launched by the Bihar government in April, which aims to directly engage with around two crore women in the state. While the Nitish-led NDA government has not introduced a universal cash transfer program, it has focused on targeted welfare schemes intended to support vulnerable sections of the society.
This move is likely to be perceived as a direct counter to the Opposition’s promises. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has pledged to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women under his proposed Mai-Bahin Maan Yojana if his party comes to power. The social security pension hike, therefore, appears aimed at reinforcing Nitish Kumar’s standing among women and disadvantaged groups.
Political Reactions and Strategic Implications
The decision has garnered wide support from NDA leaders. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary termed it a “historic and compassionate move,” and thanked Nitish Kumar for addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. “This hike shows the government’s commitment to the welfare of the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities,” he said.
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha also welcomed the move, saying, “The public had demanded at least Rs 1,000. The government not only listened but went beyond expectations. This is real governance.”
JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar took the opportunity to attack the Opposition. “Under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, this rise in pension reflects our policy of ‘Vikas, nyay ke saath’ (development with justice). If Tejashwi Yadav is so concerned about the poor, he should sell some of his family’s property and launch the Lalu-Tejashwi Pension Scheme.”
Observers believe this pension hike aligns Bihar with a growing trend among states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Jharkhand, where pre-election welfare measures have had a significant impact on voter behavior. These schemes have been credited with influencing electoral outcomes by strengthening the incumbent government’s grassroots appeal.
Election Dynamics and Public Sentiment
With just four months to go before the Assembly elections, the Nitish Kumar government’s decision could play a decisive role in shaping the NDA’s electoral fortunes. By directly targeting key voter groups — the elderly, widows, disabled citizens, and women — the government appears to be consolidating its support base.
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The hike not only improves the economic condition of these groups but also projects a message of welfare-driven governance. It allows the NDA to claim the moral high ground on the issue of social justice, a traditionally strong plank of the Opposition in Bihar.
As Bihar heads into election season, the coming months will reveal whether this timely welfare announcement can sway public sentiment in favor of Nitish Kumar and his allies, or whether the RJD’s ambitious promises will find greater traction among the voters.
