Bihar Assembly Passes Bill to Establish Jeevika Nidhi for Financial Empowerment of Rural Women SHGs

Patna: The Bihar Legislative Assembly passed the Cooperative Society (Amendment) Bill, 2025, paving the way for the formation of Jeevika Nidhi, a special financial institution aimed at providing capital support to village organizations. Under the Bihar Cooperative Society Act, 1935, this state-level institution will exclusively benefit Jeevika didis by offering them financial assistance to promote self-reliance. The bill was proposed by Cooperative Minister Prem Kumar and was passed through a voice vote.

The formation of Jeevika Nidhi is part of the Bihar government’s initiative to expand the operations of 71,298 Jeevika self- help groups (SHGs) in rural areas and 1,671 cluster unions under the Rural Development Department. The financial institution will play a key role in strengthening the economic stability of rural women associated with Jeevika by providing them with the necessary capital.

Along with this, the assembly also passed the Bihar Wood-Based Industry (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025. The proposal for its approval was presented by Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Sunil Kumar. The new law aims to promote the development of forest areas in the state and support the growth of the wood industry. The revenue generated from this sector will be utilized for further afforestation initiatives.

The minister emphasized that the implementation of this bill will encourage sustainable forest management and create opportunities for income generation through wood-based industries. The Assembly session concluded with the passage of both bills, marking a significant step towards empowering rural communities and promoting environmental sustainability in Bihar.