Beneficiaries in Bihar are told to say ‘all is well’ to CM

Videos made after Nitish Kumar’s virtual tour of community kitchens in 22 districts tell another story

A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a virtual tour of community kitchens for the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic in as many as 22 of the State’s 38 districts, videos allegedly revealing a different picture went viral on social media on Tuesday. In one of these videos, district officials at the Hajipur community kitchen in Vaishali district were seen telling a middle-aged beneficiary sitting on a wooden bench, wearing a vest and having food, to say, “Sab badhiya hai (all is well),” to Mr. Kumar, if he were to interact with the man about arrangements at the Centre. The beneficiary is seen listening to the official with rapt attention and nodding in agreement. Earlier, efforts had been made by the local administration to have the Hajipur community kitchen look its clean best, with banners and posters put up.