Patna: Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition in Bihar, has promised a series of measures to support women if his party comes to power, while sharply criticising the state government for corruption and unemployment.
Speaking at a women’s empowerment dialogue at Patna’s Veterinary College, Yadav described “mother” as a word that “brings peace and comfort” and said women bear the greatest responsibility when men are forced to migrate in search of work. “People are jobless today … corruption is rampant in this government. Nothing gets done without a bribe,” he told the gathering, where some attendees called for him to become chief minister.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in alliance with Congress, has announced three flagship promises aimed at women and families:
- Mai Behna Maan Yojana: a monthly payment of Rs 2,500 to every woman, first unveiled at an RJD women’s conference in February, for which application forms are already being distributed.
- Social pensions: an increase in pensions for widows and senior citizens to Rs 1,500 a month.
- Scholarships and subsidies: financial support for graduate and postgraduate female students, fee waivers or subsidies of up to 75% for girls in medical and engineering programmes, and free bus and train passes for female students.
The RJD’s “Youth Vision Document”, released in April, also highlighted expanded education support for women.
Cash transfer schemes for women have become a central electoral issue across India. Between November 2023 and November 2024, 13 states went to the polls. In nine of them, cash transfer programmes for women were promised or implemented – and in eight of those, the parties backing such measures secured victory.
