The Bihar government has introduced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, a large-scale program to support women’s livelihoods, starting with a direct grant and aiming to create sustainable micro-enterprises. The program was launched by the Prime Minister via video conference and will work through existing self-help group (SHG) networks and new cooperative finance to accelerate its rollout throughout the state.
This article will provide an easy-to-read description of what the scheme offers, who is eligible and how it will be rolled out.
What Is The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana?
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana is a government initiative in Bihar (with central cooperation) to give every family a first-time grant of ₹10,000 for a woman to start an income-generating activity. The sarkari scheme is aimed at supporting micro-enterprises such as small shops, animal husbandry, food processing, handicrafts, and other local enterprises, and will have a performance-linked additional funding option after six months if the initial funding is successful and uptake occurs.
Also Read: SSPMIS Bihar: Streamlining Pension Management In The State
Key Characteristics And Advantages Of The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana
Here’s a short build-up, and then the main features, so that you can see quickly how the scheme works and what it is offering.
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Immediate seed funding: ₹10,000 transferred directly to each approved beneficiary to get started on livelihood activities.
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Large-scale coverage: The first phase is focused on 75 lakh women, while the existing SHG network in Bihar (JEEViKA) is over 10 lakh SHGs, covering more than a crore of rural families - an existing delivery backbone
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Performance-linked top-up: Beneficiaries who develop viable enterprises will be able to receive further funding of up to ₹2 lakh, six months later, to grow the enterprise.
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Integration with JEEViKA & Jeevika Nidhi: The scheme will work within existing SHG federations and new Jeevika Nidhi Credit Cooperative structures, to provide training, credit linkages and market access.
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Training & market facilitation: The programme promises training, skilling and assistance to create market linkages, including haat bazaars and cooperative marketing, so that seed grants become sustainable livelihoods.
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Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) & digital delivery: The rollout will utilise Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar and mobile links, to ensure fast and transparent transfers, while securing a green channel with minimal leakage.
Who Will Benefit —Target groups
The government program is intended for one woman per household in Bihar, with the scheme placing a premium on rural women who are part of SHGs (Self Help Groups) and are a part of the Jeevika Nidhi Cooperatives. By working through established SHG networks and the Jeevika Nidhi cooperative, the government expects to benefit both individual entrepreneurs and group enterprises. The first cohort (75 lakh women) suggests the scheme is targeting both rural and urban women interested in starting micro-enterprises or scaling up existing small business ventures.
What Will Be The Method Of Execution Of The Scheme?
The state will utilise a combination of digital DBT and on-ground SHG federations:
Step 1: Identification & lists: The identification lists would be based on the SHG lists maintained by JEEViKA and the corresponding lists from the state.
Step 2: Direct transfers: DBT into bank (Jan Dhan/Aadhaar linkage) accounts for the ₹10,000 seed grant.
Step 3: Verification & monitoring: Local officials, SHG federations and the Jeevika Nidhi cooperatives would verify activities, mentor recipients and track outcomes for top-up eligibility.
Step 4: Credit & scale (for those who need loans to scale): The Jeevika Nidhi cooperative is designed to provide credit linkages and lower-cost finance.
Also Read: Mukhyamantri Udyami Scheme
Training, Skilling And Market Access
The Government will provide capacity building and training, so recipients can package the seed grants into viable micro-enterprises. Training would involve basic recordkeeping, product quality, packaging and market access. Additionally, officials have plans for local markets and value-chain linkages (for produce, handicrafts, livestock products) to soak up increased production from the new enterprises. Creating a financial and training combination should reduce drop-out and lend itself to a positive earning profile.
Conclusion
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana is an ambitious, high-visibility attempt to grow women's entrepreneurship at scale in Bihar. For it to be successful in the early days, there should be strong follow-up — beginning with training, credit and market linkages, followed by continuity of monitoring to ensure the ₹10,000 grants become sustainable livelihoods rather than just short-term relief. If all goes well through the JEEViKA and Jeevika Nidhi programming, it could create new and higher incomes for millions of women and develop Bihar's localised economies.
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