New Delhi/Patna: When Nitish appeared weak, Didis rallied round.That ladies voters in Bihar are a fan of Nitish Kumar-led NDA govt for its pro-women insurance policies since 2005 is well-known. What acted as a turbo-boost this time was the money switch of Rs 10,000 to over 1.5 crore girls in ballot season. As if Rakhi after Diwali, the ‘das-hazariya’ beneficiaries and Jeevika Didis turned out to be the catalyst in NDA’s large win. Girls whose lives have modified on the again of presidency insurance policies are in substantial numbers – and so they minimize throughout caste traces.Some 71.6% girls, practically 9 share factors greater than males (62.8%), turned as much as vote this time – up from 59.7% in 2020. It was seen as an endorsement of NDA authorities and a ‘no’ to MGB’s return bid. A complete era of girls has benefitted from welfare applications of the JDU-BJP govt, beginning with the free cycle scheme for schoolgoing women in its first time period (2005-10). The sight of smiling women biking to high school was the defining image of Nitish’s win in 2010, when the RJD-led opposition’s decimation was as complete as it’s now.Even prohibition, with its flaws, attracts sturdy assist from girls, particularly the poor. Journalists touring by Bihar usually got here throughout the contrasting image of males trashing the government for its “ineffective” ban on liquor and their wives praising its advantages regardless of points with implementation.Then there have been pioneering insurance policies like 35% reservation for girls in govt jobs and 50% in native our bodies. Jeevika Didis, girls members registered with greater than 11 lakh self-help teams, additionally emerged as loyal supporters of Nitish govt. When TOI sought to gauge the temper of Jeevika Didis and different girls throughout the state, a majority of them had expressed assist for Nitish and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Additionally, the relative security underneath NDA authorities has its share of admirers amongst girls. Hooliganism was a part of residents’ on a regular basis expertise underneath RJD govt ftom 1990 and 2005, and stored girls in an virtually everlasting state of apprehension.The Nitish administration earned credit score for making Bihar a safer place. Crime does happen, however not many voters imagine that the federal government is intentionally mushy on criminals – a cost that has caught with the RJD so strongly that it can’t shake it off regardless of twenty years out of workplace. Add to those the welfare schemes of Modi govt, particularly free ration that ensures girls working the kitchen of poor households haven’t got to fret about their households getting two meals a day. Regardless of his latest goof-ups in public, Nitish continues to be seen as an avuncular determine who cares for girls. And girls repay in religion.