Patna: The Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme is generating strong interest among women in both urban and rural areas of Bihar. Designed to help women become financially independent, the scheme allows them to start small businesses and join Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for support. So far, 466,000 urban women have applied under the scheme, while over 440,000 women have shown interest in joining SHGs managed by Jeevika.
Under this initiative, the government will provide the first installment of ₹10,000 directly into the bank accounts of 50 lakh women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The total allocation for this scheme is ₹5,000 crore. With this money, women can start businesses in areas such as farming, animal husbandry, handicrafts, or tailoring. After around six months, beneficiaries will receive an additional ₹2 lakh to help expand their businesses further.
The scheme has also attracted applications from rural areas. More than 1 crore women associated with SHGs in villages have applied, and over 1.4 lakh rural women have expressed interest in joining these groups. The aim is to provide equal opportunities to women from economically weaker sections so they can become self-reliant and support their families.
Women eligible for the scheme include those aged between 18 and 60 years. Families eligible for support are those with a husband, wife, and unmarried children. Unmarried women whose parents are not alive can also apply. Applicants or their husbands must not be income tax payers, and neither should be in government service. In rural areas, women submit applications through their village organizations, while urban women can apply online through Jeevika’s website, www.brlps.in. Women already part of SHGs do not need to apply separately.
This scheme is expected to change the lives of thousands of women in Bihar, giving them financial independence and the opportunity to contribute to their communities.
