Bihar’s Rs 10,000 scheme doesn’t violate poll code: Officials

Officials clarify Bihar’s Rs 10,000 women’s aid predated Model Code enforcement.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Informed official sources have said that the Bihar government’s recent transfer of Rs 10,000 each to women beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana does not amount to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The clarification comes amid a political row over the disbursal of funds on 17, 24, and 31 October following allegations by RJD MP Manoj Jha and several other opposition leaders that the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government had violated the MCC by making direct cash transfers to women after the election schedule was announced.

Officials familiar with the matter said that the MCC restricts governments from announcing or implementing new schemes, projects, or financial grants once the election process begins, but it does not bar the continuation of programmes that were already approved and operational before the enforcement of the Code.