In a significant boost to women's empowerment in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Saturday that more than 1.41 crore women have received financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY) within just one and a half months of the scheme's launch.
Direct Benefit Transfer Success
Through a detailed post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister revealed that the amount has been directly transferred to women's bank accounts using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The financial support of Rs 10,000 is provided to enable women to pursue employment of their choice and will not be recovered from them.
"We recently launched the MMRY in the state. Under this scheme, one woman from every family is being provided Rs 10,000 to start employment of her choice. I am very happy that within just 1.5 months, Rs 10,000 each has been sent to the bank accounts of 1.41 crore women," Nitish Kumar stated in his post.
Additional Support and Historical Context
The scheme doesn't stop at the initial financial assistance. Women who successfully establish good employment opportunities using this amount will be eligible for additional support up to Rs 2 lakh. This comprehensive approach aims to create sustainable livelihoods for women across Bihar.
The Chief Minister contrasted the current scenario with the situation before 2005, when Bihar witnessed minimal progress in women's empowerment. He recalled that women were largely confined to their homes, with safety concerns preventing them from venturing out after 6 PM. The pervasive fear of crime and lack of government interest in women's welfare resulted in limited educational opportunities, especially in rural areas.
Transformative Journey Since 2005
A remarkable transformation began with the formation of a new government on November 24, 2005. Since then, the state has implemented numerous initiatives focused on women's education, development, and self-reliance.
The groundbreaking reforms include:
- 50% reservation for women in panchayati raj institutions (2006) and urban local bodies (2007)
- 35% reservation for women in police recruitment (2013)
- 35% reservation for women in all government jobs and 50% quota in primary teacher appointments (2016)
- 33% reservation for girls in engineering and medical college admissions
The Jeevika self-help group initiative, launched in 2006 with World Bank support, has grown to approximately 11 lakh groups, empowering 1 crore 40 lakh women. These Jeevika Didis are now engaged in diverse economic activities including organic farming, fish farming, and entrepreneurship.
The 'Didi ki rasoi' initiative, providing affordable meals in hospitals and schools, has gained national recognition and continues to expand across the state. In urban areas, over 36,000 self-help groups have been established, with more than 3.85 lakh women achieving self-reliance through Jeevika.
Through the women entrepreneur scheme, female aspirants can access up to Rs 10 lakh to start their own businesses, fostering a new generation of women entrepreneurs in Bihar and contributing significantly to the state's economic progress.
