The winter session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly kicked off recently with significant political activity and introduction of new representatives. On Monday, three newly elected MLAs took their oaths, marking the beginning of this session, which will span over five days. Among those sworn in were Deepa Manjhi from Imamganj, Manorama Devi from Belaganj, and Ashok Singh from Ramgarh. A fourth MLA, Vishal Prashant, from Tarari, is scheduled to take his oath shortly.
The assembly session began with condolences being expressed for notable figures who have passed away since the last session, followed by brief adjournment. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made headlines with his entrance, receiving warm greetings from JD(U.) leaders like Vijay Chaudhary and Ashok Chaudhary as he made his way to the Assembly, accompanied by the Speaker and other senior members from the party.
Notably, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav marked his presence during this session after being absent from the previous monsoon assembly meeting. This stirred speculation about his engagement with the assembly activities, which he addressed by showing up, signaling a more active participation this time. His presence brought with it renewed political tension and expectation as legislators prepared to tackle substantial issues during the brief session.
Despite the limited time frame, state legislators have their work cut out for them with various legislative matters laid out on the agenda. The assembly intends to introduce and pass several bills along with addressing state-specific concerns and approving the second supplementary budget. This busy agenda promises to galvanize discussions among the ruling and opposition parties alike.
Meanwhile, highlighting the administration's commitment to development, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also recently inspected the under-construction headquarters of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) located in Bihta, Patna. The building project aims to establish permanent facilities for the SDRF, which has historically lacked local training facilities, pushing personnel to travel outside the state for necessary training.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister reviewed the architectural plans featuring training and residential amenities, which will include administrative offices, classrooms for trainees, and accommodations for SDRF personnel. This new facility is anticipated to remedy previous logistical challenges faced by the SDRF personnel, ensuring they receive adequate training without the need to leave Bihar.
Emphasizing expedited construction, Nitish Kumar commented on the importance of providing modern facilities to improve disaster response efficiency. By June 2025, the facility is expected to be fully operational, with completion of necessary infrastructural elements like mess halls and barracks soon to follow.
On another front, health initiatives are thriving across Bihar with the launching of the 'Ayushman Vay Vandana' scheme, aimed particularly at citizens aged 70 and over. Recently initiated, this campaign, running from November 20 to December 10, allows elderly residents to register for treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh annually when using the Ayushman Bharat card.
Beneficiaries have expressed appreciation for this scheme, which they believe will drastically improve healthcare access for the older population. District officials are employing digital counters at hospitals to streamline registration and are set to launch door-to-door campaigns led by ASHA workers to reach those who missed the initial registration phase. Each successfully registered health card earns ASHA workers monetary compensation, providing them additional incentive.
The enthusiasm surrounding the 'Ayushman Vay Vandana' campaign is echoed by seniors like Azim Shah, who expressed gratitude for the recent initiative, acknowledging how it promises to alleviate their healthcare burdens. People applying for these health cards reported feeling hopeful about their healthcare prospects.
With the Government of Bihar also focusing on infrastructural improvement, the CM reiterated during his inspection of the under-construction Bihta-Danapur elevated road the necessity of seamless transport routes to aid local development. This elevated road project, spanning around 25 km, is part of the larger Patna-Buxar highways initiative and aims to facilitate easier access to services including the recently planned Bihta Airport.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly's winter session has, without doubt, set the stage for impactful discourse among lawmakers, underlining pressing issues, healthcare reforms for the aged, and ambitious infrastructure projects slated to redefine Bihar's development pathway.
