Bihar MLAs Gifted with Microwaves for Attending Budget Sessions

The microwave ovenS gifted to 243 legislators cost Bihar’s education department Rs 11,125 each.

Each of Bihar’s 243 legislators were gifted with a microwave oven by the state’s education department on Friday. In the course of the ongoing Budget session, they have also received suitcases and mobile phones, NDTV reported.

Following an odd tradition of gift-giving, every government department, for two decades has been handing out gifts during the Budget session to the state’s MLAs to thank them.

Patna: Bihar MLAs given gifts to attend budget session in State Assembly. pic.twitter.com/l0pvXx274c

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 18, 2016

The rationale offered for the startling tradition is that their contribution through the year helps departments decide which areas need focus when the state’s budget is being prepared.

Excerpt from NDTV report

CORRECTION: Bihar MLAs given gifts during budget session in State Assembly. pic.twitter.com/eSsXGOQbwG

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 18, 2016

Each of the microwave ovens cost Bihar’s education department Rs 11,125.

It’s just a matter of about 30 lakh rupees. Please don’t hype it up like this. It’s unfair to compare this to other issues like salaries, condition of schools...we have given this so that when MLAs go to their areas they can heat food and eat. This has been happening for ages, nothing new in this. We have subsidiaries within the department that are profitable, they are the ones that give these gifts.

Ashok Chowdhary, Education Minister of Bihar

Although Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar did not comment on it, Deputy Chief Minister, Tejaswi Yadav said:

Bihar is a poor state. The people who get elected here are not crorepatis but poor people. What is so wrong if they get some gifts? Please don’t rake up such issues.

Read the full article on NDTV.