Bihar Minister Honors CM's Birthday with Garment Distribution by Jeevika Women
In a significant event marking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's birthday, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar distributed clothes stitched by women from Jeevika self-help groups to Anganwadi children. The ceremony took place at the Valmiki Auditorium in Valmikinagar, located under the Bagaha-2 block of West Champaran district in Bihar.
Empowering Women Through Skill Development
Addressing the gathering, Minister Kumar emphasized that this initiative serves a dual purpose: bringing joy to young children while bolstering the skills and self-reliance of women associated with Jeevika. He highlighted that after receiving comprehensive tailoring training, these women, affectionately called Jeevika didis, are now producing high-quality garments and earning a sustainable livelihood.
Kumar described the program as a direct reflection of the Chief Minister's unwavering commitment to rural development and women's empowerment. Over the past two decades, Bihar has launched several initiatives aimed at uplifting women and steering the state toward becoming a developed region, he added.
Scale and Impact of the Initiative
The minister provided detailed statistics to underscore the program's reach:
- In West Champaran alone, 2,034 Jeevika didis are engaged in stitching clothes for Anganwadi children.
- Statewide, approximately 60,000 women participate in this initiative.
- On the day of the event, about 6,000 children in the district received garments, with nearly 50,000 children benefiting across Bihar.
To support this effort, a cutting centre is operational in the Yogapatti block, which supplies fabric to all 18 blocks of West Champaran district. Kumar noted that similar centres may be established as women gain greater proficiency in their tailoring skills.
Economic Benefits and Broader Schemes
Each Jeevika didi stitches four to five sets of clothes daily, earning up to Rs 300 per day, which contributes significantly to their household income. Beyond this, Kumar highlighted the Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme, under which 6,82,697 women in West Champaran have received Rs 10,000 each, totaling over Rs 682 crore in financial assistance.
"Today, the Centre and the state are jointly committed to Bihar's all-round development. This scheme is a strong step towards a self-reliant Bihar," he stated, reinforcing the collaborative efforts between state and central governments.
This event not only celebrated a political milestone but also showcased Bihar's progressive strides in integrating social welfare with economic empowerment, setting a benchmark for rural development initiatives across India.
