In the political theatre of Bihar, employment has always been a headline act — and a tragic one. Every election season revives the same glittering promise: government jobs for all. This time, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav reignited hope by pledging that every household in Bihar would have at least one government employee. The statement made headlines and stirred millions of job-seeking hearts. But beneath the surface, the arithmetic collapses faster than the promise rises.
Bihar is home to roughly 12.7 crore people, spread across nearly 2.7 crore households. If even one person per household were to receive a government job, the state would have to employ about 2.7 crore people. To put that in perspective, the entire central government of India employs less than 35 lakh people, while all state governments together employ around 1.6 crore. Bihar’s share of this national figure is a mere fraction. So, the claim that every home could get a government job is not just far-fetched — it’s mathematically impossible.
The reality is stark and painful. Bihar remains one of India’s poorest states, and its unemployment crisis is worsening. According to government surveys, barely two out of every ten people of working age have a regular job. The rest are either underemployed, migrating to other states, or trapped in informal labour. The dream of “sarkari naukri” — once a symbol of security and pride — has now become a mirage for millions.
If the RJD’s promise were taken seriously, the numbers would border on the absurd. Even at a modest average salary of ₹25,000 per month, paying 2.7 crore employees would cost over ₹8 lakh crore annually. Bihar’s total budget, for comparison, is around ₹2.6 lakh crore. Such an economic burden would crush the state beyond repair. No amount of optimism or populist rhetoric can make such math work.
Yet, the deeper tragedy is not just in the false promise — it’s in the desperation that makes people believe it. Bihar’s youth are not lazy; they are starved of opportunity. Every year, lakhs of graduates prepare for competitive exams with little hope of success. Government vacancies are few, and the recruitment process is often marred by corruption, delay, and cancellation. Private sector investment remains timid, largely due to poor infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles. The state’s brightest minds often migrate to Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, turning Bihar into a land that educates but cannot employ.
The political class knows this despair well — and exploits it even better. Populist declarations like “one job per home” are not meant to be fulfilled; they are meant to be remembered at the ballot box. It is a dangerous cycle: leaders promise the impossible, citizens cling to hope, and the unemployment crisis deepens further.
Historically, RJD has thrived on emotional and social appeal. Lalu Prasad Yadav, the party’s founder, built his empire on the politics of identity. His son, Tejashwi, faces a different challenge — an impatient generation that no longer votes only on caste or community, but on employment and dignity. To them, jobs are not just about income; they are about survival and respect. Yet, instead of addressing the structural roots of joblessness — lack of industries, outdated education, and weak governance — the focus remains on empty slogans.
True leadership requires more than catchy promises. Bihar needs investment in skills, industries, and entrepreneurship. It needs to reform its education system to match the needs of modern industries. It needs to turn its vast youth population into an asset, not a statistic. Instead of dreaming of 2.7 crore government employees, the focus should be on creating an environment where private enterprise can thrive and small businesses can grow.
The big jobs bluff in Bihar is not merely a political gimmick; it is a reflection of how deeply unemployment has corroded the state’s social fabric. It reveals a democracy where slogans substitute for solutions, and where promises have become the opium of the unemployed. Until leaders replace fantasy with foresight, Bihar’s youth will continue to migrate in search of dignity — leaving behind a state rich in potential but poor in opportunity.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
