India, Oct. 22 -- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday promised permanent government jobs to community mobilisers under Bihar's flagship Jeevika self-help groups and regularisation of services of over 150,000 contractual employees.

He called the pledge historic and accused the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of exploiting Jeevika Didis, the rural women volunteers under the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (Jeevika), and contractual workers. Yadav said it denied them dignity and stability despite their pivotal role in implementing village-level social welfare schemes.

"We will approve an ordinance within 20 days of being sworn in and make this a reality in the next 20 months," said Yadav days b...