Patna, Feb 15 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has approved a proposal to include the Paswan caste in the Mahadalit category, an official said Sunday.
Now, there is no Dalit category in Bihar.
The decision was taken Saturday at a meeting of the state cabinet here presided over by Manjhi.
"Now all Dalits are Mahadalits in the state," Bihar Mahadalit Commission official Uday Kumar said.
He said that as the Paswans are included in the Mahadalit category, they can avail welfare schemes meant for Mahadalits.
According to the 2011 Census, Dalits constitute nearly 16 percent of Bihar's 104 million population.
The census has identified 21 of the 22 Dalit sub-castes as Mahadalits. They include Musahar, Bhuiyan, Dom, Chamar, Dhobi and Nat. Paswan caste was left out of the Mahadalit category.
Activist Satya Narain Madan said: "Mahadalits are the poorest of the poor, majority of them have yet to taste the fruit of development."
The Paswan caste had been left out from the Mahadalit category during former chief minister Nitish Kumar's time when he had constituted a Mahadalit commission and announced special welfare programmes for them.
Manjhi is a Mahadalit and belongs to the Musahar community.
There is a danger of increasing the suicide rate due to an acute shortage of medicines in Pakistan, know the reason
Even after the fall of Imran Khan's government and Shahbaz Sharif's power in Pakistan, there has been no improvement in the condition of the country. After the skyrocketing prices of everyday items,
IPL 2023: Delhi-Kolkata captain out, then Punjab in a new avatar; Know the weakness and strength of these five teams
The 16th season of IPL is starting on Friday (31st March). In the opening match, the teams of Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans will be face to face. Mumbai Indians have won the maximum five
Akasa Airline: Akasa got a 'QP' airline code, know here when the company's aircraft will fly
Veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed airline Akasa Air has got its airline code. Giving information from the company on Tuesday, it was told that the company has been given the code 'QP'. Let
Haridwar Kumbh: The fear of Corona started appearing from day one
The Haridwar Kumbh started formally on Thursday, but once again the rising speed of the corona infection has slowed down the speed of devotees to reach here.
Haryana Elections: Congress' fort destroyed, BJP's stronghold strengthened, this community distanced itself from the Jats
By making the lotus bloom in nine out of the ten municipal corporations of the state, the urban voters have once again proved that the BJP is their most favourite party. In this election, the Hooda
Key points of judgment in Haryana teachers recruitment scam
The Delhi High Court on Thursday upheld a 10-year jail term for former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala in the illegal teacher recruitment case dating to 2000. It
Swati Maliwal Case: '...on the contrary, the thief scolded the policeman', JP Nadda's attack on Kejriwal; Said- Delhi CM has been exposed
Launching a strong attack on Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the case of assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, BJP President JP Nadda has
President Droupadi Murmu: President Murmu inaugurated the warship INS Vindhyagiri, the strength of the Navy will increase
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday inaugurated the modern warship INS Vindhyagiri (P17A). President Murmu inaugurated the warship at the premises of 'Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering
Iran prevented footballer's family from leaving the country: Iran diverted the flight to Dubai, supported protesters
Iran's famous footballer Ali Dei has accused the government of not allowing his wife and daughter to leave the country. Ali Dei's wife took a flight from Tehran to Dubai on Monday. Which was diverted
Asim Munir: 'Osama bin Laden wearing Asim Munir suit', former Pentagon official shows a mirror to the PAK army chief
A former Pentagon analyst, Michael Rubin, has strongly criticized Pakistan's recent nuclear threats. He described Pakistan as behaving like a rogue nation after threatening remarks made by its army
