Patna/Munger: Two women from a rural self-help group in Bihar’s Munger district have been appointed as sanitation workers at a government office under the state’s JEEViKA livelihood programme, in a move aimed at strengthening women’s economic independence while improving public services.
The women, identified as Cheena Devi and Nisha Kumari, have been posted at the block-cum-circle office in Dharhara, where they will be responsible for maintaining cleanliness across office rooms, corridors, and surrounding premises.
Officials said the appointments are part of an ongoing effort to link women associated with JEEViKA self-help groups to regular and dignified employment. Kumari Jayashree, the block project manager for JEEViKA, said the programme’s core objective was to make rural women financially self-reliant by integrating them into formal work environments.
She added that the initiative would not only provide a steady source of income for the women but also address long-standing staffing gaps in sanitation services at government offices. Local administrators said the block office had required additional support to maintain hygiene standards for some time.
The selection process was conducted in the presence of the block development officer, Rakesh Kumar, along with other officials. Kumar instructed the newly appointed workers to ensure that cleanliness is maintained regularly and in accordance with prescribed standards, so that visitors experience a clean and orderly environment.
The initiative has been welcomed by residents, who said employment through the JEEViKA scheme would help improve household incomes while also enhancing the functioning of public offices. Community members expressed hope that more women would be connected to similar opportunities in the future.
