Patna: Over 20,000 beneficiaries, including more than 7,000 women, received their first instalment under the Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana on Tuesday, as the state government stepped up efforts to boost entrepreneurship and self-employment.
At a ceremony held in Patna’s Convention Hall, officials from the Department of Industries distributed a total of Rs 100.53 crore to 20,106 recipients — each receiving Rs 50,000 — as part of the first tranche of a larger Rs 2 lakh grant offered through the scheme. A day-long orientation session was also organised to mark the occasion.
The Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana, launched earlier this year, aims to support residents from economically weaker sections in starting small businesses. The scheme provides grants in three instalments and targets those aged 18 to 50 with a family income below Rs 6,000 per month or Rs 72,000 annually. Beneficiaries are required to choose from 61 pre-approved business projects.
Speaking at the event, Industries Minister Nitish Mishra described the initiative as “a powerful medium to make the youth and women of Bihar self-reliant,” adding that it would contribute significantly to the state’s economic development.
For the 2024–25 financial year, the state received 2,32,900 applications via the Udyami Portal. Of these, 59,901 applicants were provisionally selected through a computerised random draw, including nearly 10,000 rollovers from the previous year. An additional 11,980 have been placed on a waiting list.
Selected beneficiaries undergo a three-day training programme, conducted by the Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute across district industry centres. Only those who complete this training are eligible to receive funds.
