Bihar is facing a major salary crisis, leaving around 8 lakh government employees without pay for two months. Even chief minister Nitish Kumar and state legislators are affected.
Among them are 5 lakh teachers, 3 lakh regional staff, and 50,000 contract workers.
The delay stems from a technical glitch in the new financial software, CFMS 2.0 (Comprehensive Financial Management System). The system, launched on 3 January, was meant to streamline salary payments. However, data-transfer issues from the previous software have disrupted transactions, leaving employees without their December and January salaries.
This isn’t the first time Bihar has faced payroll issues. The government had introduced a financial- management system in 2019, but its upgraded version is now causing chaos. Despite assurances from deputy chief minister and finance minister in late December that the glitches would be resolved quickly, the issue remains unresolved.
The Bihar government disburses approximately Rs 6,000 crore in salaries every month. However, without a functional payment system, lakhs of employees are struggling to make ends meet. The situation is causing widespread distress, especially among teachers and contract workers who rely solely on their monthly wages.
With no immediate resolution in sight, employee unions are growing restless. Protests and legal action could be on the horizon if payments are not made soon. The Bihar government must act swiftly to fix the glitches and restore financial stability for its workforce.
