- Through video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in Bihar
- The scheme aims to energise women's self-employment and livelihood opportunities
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Bihar's Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana via video conferencing on Friday.
Following the launch, the first installment of ₹10,000 was directly deposited into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women beneficiaries, who are said to be the beneficiaries of the state's self-employment and livelihood programs meant for women.
Emphasizing the timing of the project, the Prime Minister stated, "In this auspicious Navratri season, I feel happy to share the joy of women in Bihar. So far, 75 lakh sisters have enrolled for this scheme and each of them has received ₹10,000 in their bank accounts directly."
Women who are eligible under the scheme should be permanent citizens of Bihar, between the ages of 18–60, and not in the income tax slab. Self-help group (SHG) membership, in this case involving SHGs under the JEEViKA network, is mandatory, with only a single woman from each household being allowed.
The beneficiaries get ₹10,000 as seed money to begin an enterprise with the possible additional assistance of up to ₹2 lakh on performance. As much as ₹7,500 crore was credited into the beneficiary accounts during the first phase.
During the event, the Prime Minister mentioned previous governance issues, comparing them with the present system of direct benefit transfer (DBT). He pointed out, "Earlier, a Prime Minister confessed that when one rupee was being sent from Delhi, only 15 paise actually reached the ground.
Today, when we send ₹10,000, the entire amount is credited directly." No rupee is lost. He attributed Jan Dhan Yojana and digital banking efforts to facilitate transparent transfers, but stressed the significance of account linking with mobile phones.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, from Patna, declared that the next installment will be launched on October 3. He presented his government's long-standing commitment to empowering women, referring to schemes like 50 percent reservation in panchayats and city bodies, 35 percent reservation in police and state government services, and the JEEViKA SHG scheme.
Critical of past governments, Nitish stated earlier governments kept personal interests ahead of public good. He urged women to utilize the assistance given to the best of their ability and help the growth of the state.
