Patna, Jan 8 (IANS) After ministers and legislators, it is now the turn of Bihar’s 550,000 government officials to declare their assets by Feb 28.The General Administration Department has directed all the officials from the block level office to district headquarters to state secretariat to submit their asset details to the state government as part of a crackdown on corruption.

“The government will upload the details of all officials on the government website by March 31,” said Deepak Kumar, principal secretary of the General Administration Department.

These officials include Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) officers.

Those who will not declare their assets till Feb 28 won’t get their salary for February. “A circular has been issued in this regard to officials concerned, including principal secretary and secretaries of all departments,” Deepak Kumar said.

Last year, Bihar become the first in the country to make assets of government employees public.

Nitish Kumar declared a war against corruption after becoming chief minister for the second consecutive term in November 2010. Setting an example, he and his cabinet colleagues declared their assets Dec 31, 2010 and details were posted on the state government’s official website.

Again, Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues last week declared their assets.

Most of the 243 legislators of Bihar state assembly and all 76 legislators of Bihar Legislative Council submitted details of their assets this week, a week after the deadline ended Dec 31.