Patna: A debriefing session of the Bihar government’s Immersion and Learning Exchange (ILE) programme was held at the Secretariat in Patna on Thursday, with a 13-member delegation from Kenya praising the state’s flagship Sustainable Livelihoods Scheme (SJY) implemented by JEEViKA.
The delegation, which had earlier visited Nalanda to observe women’s self-help groups and community-run enterprises, heard detailed presentations from senior officials of JEEViKA, the rural development agency driving the scheme.
Welcoming the visitors, JEEViKA’s Additional CEO Abhilasha Kumari Sharma underlined the programme’s focus on poverty alleviation through women-led enterprises. CEO Himanshu Sharma briefed the delegation on the scheme’s objectives, explaining how it has supported over 2.1 lakh families in Bihar since its launch in 2018.
Andrew Mwadime, governor of Taveta County, Kenya, shared his experiences of the field visits, praising Bihar’s model. “The impact of this scheme on the ground is remarkable. We believe elements of this model can be replicated in Kenya to address poverty,” he said, adding that his government would explore adopting the approach.
Lokesh Kumar Singh, secretary of Bihar’s rural development department, called the Kenyan interest “a matter of pride”, saying the model’s success demonstrated Bihar’s ability to contribute to global poverty reduction efforts. Chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena highlighted the creation of Jeevika Nidhi, a cooperative union to financially support women’s self-help groups, as an innovation that could also be shared internationally.
The ILE programme, jointly coordinated by JEEViKA, BRAC International and Bandhan Kon Nagar, has previously hosted delegations from Indonesia, South Africa, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Officials said it aims to expand the reach and impact of the SJY by fostering global exchange.
Closing the session, JEEViKA’s special officer Rajesh Kumar emphasised the scope for mutual collaboration. “Through schemes like SJY, India and Kenya can work together in this fight against poverty,” he said.
