Patna: Thousands of rural women across Bihar are reaping the benefits of a financial inclusion initiative spearheaded by the Government of Bihar’s Jeevika project in partnership with Punjab National Bank (PNB). The programme, aimed at supporting women from self-help groups (SHGs), is unlocking access to credit for livelihood development and personal entrepreneurship.
The event, held in Patna, was attended by Jeevika’s Chief Executive Officer Himanshu Sharma, senior PNB officials, and representatives from the Rural Development Department. At its heart, the initiative seeks to enable women in rural Bihar to become financially self-reliant through bank linkages and structured loan schemes.
Under this partnership, loans worth Rs150 crore have been disbursed to SHGs. The funding is being channelled into a variety of income-generating activities, including animal husbandry, tailoring, poultry farming, handicrafts, and small-scale trade. As a result, women are not only boosting their household incomes but are also gaining social recognition and decision-making power within their communities.
In a significant shift from collective financing, individual loans are now being made available to women wishing to start their own enterprises. This move has widened the scope of the programme and is enabling participants to scale their ventures independently.
“Financial inclusion is not just about opening bank accounts,” said Sharma. “It is about changing lives. Women who become self-reliant uplift not just their families, but entire villages.” He noted that Jeevika, through its collaboration with banks, has already mobilised over Rs12,000 crore and facilitated loans amounting to Rs60,000 crore for SHGs across the state.
During the event, three SHG members – Baby Ranjan, Manisha Devi, and Shobha Devi – shared personal success stories, crediting the programme for helping them become ‘lakhpatis’ (those earning Rs1 lakh or more annually).
The “Lakhpati Didi” scheme, a key highlight of the event, aims to ensure that every Jeevika member earns at least Rs1 lakh a year. The initiative includes capacity-building through training, market access, and tailored financial products. With PNB’s support, Jeevika is helping rural women transition from basic livelihood support to full-fledged micro-entrepreneurship.
PNB’s Jeevika CEO Ashok Chandra described the collaboration as “a vehicle for social change”, noting that the high loan repayment rate among SHG members has built strong trust between the bank and borrowers. “This year alone, we aim to provide personal loans to over 50,000 Jeevika women,” he added.
Two families of deceased beneficiaries also received insurance cheques of Rs2 lakh each, reflecting the programme’s broader commitment to financial security.
With simplified loan procedures and ongoing support from both institutions, the initiative is seeing increasing participation from women across Bihar. Officials said the partnership would continue to expand, setting a new benchmark for inclusive rural development.
Jeevika and Punjab National Bank hope their joint efforts will turn thousands of rural women not only into beneficiaries of financial schemes but into active drivers of Bihar’s economic future.
