PATNA: In a major move aimed at minority welfare, the Bihar government has decided to appoint 27,000 Urdu teachers. This would be in addition to the 15,000 existing Urdu teachers and the 25,000 others already being appointed.
“The idea is to have at least one Urdu teacher in each of the state’s 67,000 primary and middle schools,” announced chief minister Nitish Kumar while releasing his government’s report card on Friday.
The government has also decided to appoint 20,000 Sanskrit teachers for its 28,000 middle schools where currently only 8,000 Sanskrit teachers are working. Besides, 250 Bangla teachers would be appointed for the state schools in eight districts, he added.
The last of the annual report cards of the Nitish-led NDA government has come out four and a half months before its five year term ends on November 24, 2010. The bulky report contains the achievements made by the government during the period.
“Now the state is on the right track and people are living in peace in the changed atmosphere,” Nitish said and disclosed that the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) estimated a growth rate of 16.59% in Bihar during 2008-09.
The announcements he made on the occasion were approved by the state cabinet at a meeting held prior to the release of the report.
“I am not fully satisfied with the achievements. In any case, one has to remain dissatisfied so as to work with more vigour,” Nitish said and added he nevertheless feels immensely happy to see the happy faces of people now living without fear of criminals. “I also feel content to see girls pedalling their way to schools on bicycles provided by the government,” he said.
The Nitish government has also reduced VAT on kerosene from 12.5% to 4% in view of the increase in its price. With this, the kerosene will become cheaper by 96 paise per litre in Bihar.
In view of the rainfall deficiency, the government will extend a subsidy of Rs 20 per litre on diesel to farmers for irrigation purposes.
“I am executing my `raj dharm’. I do not work for appreciation,” Nitish said and added the state, once infamous for massacres, is now earning fame for its development and growth rate. And taking a dig at his opponents, he recited a couplet, “Umra bhar nafrat ki deewarein uthai aapne, Ab mohabbat ko jara sa rasta toh dijiye (you raised walls of hatred for long, now let love blossom).”