Patna: In a move aimed at boosting women’s economic empowerment, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday transferred Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 2.1 million women under the state’s Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme. The programme, launched in September, provides financial support to one female member of every family in Bihar to promote employment.
The latest disbursement, amounting to Rs 2,100 crore, brings the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme to 12.1 million. Previous transfers were made on September 26, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Kumar transferred funds to 7.5 million women, and on 3 October, when 2.5 million women received assistance.
The distribution on Monday was conducted through a programme at the Chief Minister’s residence, attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar.
Under the scheme, women can receive additional assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh over six months if they wish to pursue employment opportunities. The government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for the initiative, with the goal of reaching two crore women across the state.
Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar highlighted the broader context of women’s empowerment in Bihar. “Today, Bihar has the largest number of women police in the country, and complete prohibition of alcohol has been implemented on the demand of women. Through the Chief Minister’s Employment Scheme and other initiatives, women in Bihar are becoming educationally, economically, socially, and politically empowered,” he said.
The scheme requires applicants to be between 18 and 60 years of age, belong to a Jeevika Self-Help Group, and not be income taxpayers, either individually or through a spouse. Eligible women can start enterprises in areas such as grocery and food shops, dairy and agricultural businesses, tailoring and beauty parlours, mobile sales, and e-rickshaw services, among others.
The state government has announced further transfer dates under the scheme on October 17, 24, and 31, and in November and early December. Officials noted that applications are continuing to arrive, with over 14 million women already registered through Jeevika, Bihar’s rural self-help network.
The Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme represents one of the largest women-centric financial empowerment campaigns in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, highlighting the growing political and social focus on women voters.
