Ahead of 2014, Nitish tries to appease voters

CM also announced construction of three new mega bridges on Ganga, Sone and Gandak rivers

Ahead of 2014 national elections, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has dumped the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) after 17 years, tried to appease the voters with new promises.

Kumar on Thursday announced a 30 percent pay hike for contractual teachers as he hoisted the national flag in Patna. He said, "Our government has put much emphasis on the education sector in last eight and half years. The Panchayati and Nagar teachers (employed by the local bodies) have played a crucial role in this. Due to the rising inflation, we have decided to raise their honourarium. From next month they will get Rs 3,000 more."

With this increase, these teachers will now get a monthly pay of Rs . 10,000-12,000. They have been demanding pay parity with government teachers, but the state government has been refusing to accept that citing financial reasons.

Kumar has been on the receiving end of criticism for the manner in which he dealt with their agitation. Last year, they pelted stones on his cavalcade in Khagaria, when he refused to heed their demands.

Earlier this year too, they staged a massive protest in Patna near the state assembly.

The Chief Minister also promised better infrastructure in next couple of years. Kumar said, "I have promised electricity to every village of the state by 2015 and I stand on that. Today we get 2,000MWs.

It is almost 2.5 times more than what Bihar used to get in 2005. By the next year, our supply will be more than 3,000 MWs. We have also roped in PowerGrid for strengthening our transmission network and trying to improve our distribution system."

The chief minister also announced construction of three new mega bridges on Ganga, Sone and Gandak rivers. The state government will spend almost Rs 2,000 crores on them.

He also expressed serious concern over incidents of communal clashes in Nawada districts, where curfew was imposed on Monday.

He also reiterated his demand for special status to Bihar.