Patna, May 26: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today warned the mukhiyapatis and sarpanchpatis (husbands of village heads and panchayat heads) not to attend meetings convened by their wives, failing which they would face “stern action”.

“The state government would take action against the husbands if they are caught attending meetings along with their spouses. Now women can understand and discharge their duties efficiently,” Nitish said, addressing the first women’s co-operative conference.

The statement came in an apparent dig at RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s who had extended support to the husbands of mukhiyas and sarpanchs attending official meetings with their wives.

Lalu had said it would not be fair at all to stop women from going with their husbands anywhere as women still hesitate to go at all places.

It may be noted that panchayati raj minister Bhim Singh had ordered last year that women panchayat members in Bihar, the first state in the country to reserve 50 per cent seats in panchayats for women, to leave their spouses behind while attending official meetings. The minister’s directive had sought to weed out a proxy institution called panchpatis, or husbands of panchayat members.

“The NDA government after taking over the reins in 2005 implemented 50 per cent quota for women in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies despite the Constitutional provision of giving women a minimum of 33 per cent quota,” Nitish said, adding that his government’s efforts have started paying dividends, as it has made the women more confident about their rights.

“Akshar Anchal Yojana has made 32 lakh women literate against its target of 40 lakh. According to the 2011 Census, the scheme has benefited Bihar in achieving the number one position in terms of decadal growth of female literacy rate among all states,” Nitish said.

The chief minister announced that the state government would launch a special scheme for women belonging to the Mahadalit community to make them literate.

Literacy rate among Mahadalit women is the lowest in the country, the chief minister added.

In order to create awareness among women, Nitish said the government intends to achieve the target of setting up of about 10 lakh self-help groups.

Bihar is the first state that has decided to provide money for building toilets for in their houses without discriminating between people living below and above poverty line, the chief minister said.

He added that about 300 women chairpersons of primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) have been participating in the conference.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the NDA government has given a top priority to the women in its every scheme. Modi appealed women to take benefit of all schemes, such as cycle scheme, uniform scheme among others.

Co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh said that the government would open Patna Haat on the lines of Dilli Haat to promote women’s co-operatives.