‘Powerful means to fulfil dreams’: PM Modi transfers Rs 10,000 each to 75 lakh women in Bihar under self-employment scheme

Women can apply to be beneficiaries of the scheme if they are permanent residents of Bihar, between the ages of 18 and 60, and are outside the income tax bracket. A key requirement is membership in a self-help group (SHG), such as those associated with the JEEViKA network. Only one woman per household can be a beneficiary.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries will be provided Rs 10,000 as initial support to start an enterprise. Depending on the success of their initiative, additional aid of up to Rs 2 lakh will be given. A total of Rs 7,500 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries in the first instalment.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister targeted the previous Congress government at the Centre, saying, “Earlier, a Prime Minister himself had admitted that despite their (Congress’s) rule from panchayat to Parliament, when one rupee is sent from Delhi, only 15 paise reaches the ground — 85% was grabbed by the palm (Congress’s election symbol).”

“Today, when we send Rs 10,000, the full amount reaches your bank account. Not a single rupee can be stolen. The money that used to be looted midway was a huge injustice to you,” the PM said.

He credited his government’s initiatives in making digital banking more widespread for making this possible. “If I had not gotten 30 crore accounts opened for sisters and daughters under Jan Dhan Yojna 11 years ago, and if the accounts had not been linked to mobile phones, would it have been possible to send this money to so many bank accounts today?” the PM asked.

Taking on the Opposition in election-bound Bihar, Modi said the state’s women bore the brunt of alleged corruption and misrule during the RJD’s time in power in the state. “In all such hardships, the first to bear the brunt are always women — mothers and sisters. You know very well how trouble multiplied during floods. Pregnant mothers could not reach hospitals on time, and in serious cases, could not get the right treatment,” he said.

“People under 30 may not know how bad things were. The elderly will recall the fear that was there under RJD’s rule — no home was safe, Naxal violence was unchecked. Even families of doctors and IAS officers were not safe from RJD leaders’ excesses,” he said.

‘Two brothers’

He said that under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar, the rule of law has been restored. “Today, with the restoration of the rule of law under Nitish ji, my mothers, sisters, and daughters have got the most relief. Now, daughters step outside fearlessly, even late at night, for work.”

Modi said he and Nitish Kumar were two brothers of the women of Bihar and that both of them “are working together for the service, prosperity, and dignity of the women of Bihar”.

He said the Mahila Rojgar Yojana was part of a broader vision for women’s economic independence. “The Rs 10,000 being given at the beginning will act as ‘seed money’. With its proper use, if the work progresses well, then additional assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh can be given. This is a huge support for you,” Modi said, urging women to use the money to start small shops and self-employment activities.

“This scheme is not merely a transfer of money, but a powerful means to fulfil the dreams of Bihar’s women. It will raise the standard of living by allowing women to start enterprises of their choice in areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, tailoring, weaving, and small businesses,” he said.

He said the financial assistance would also be accompanied by training and guidance on “using this money effectively for employment activities”.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who joined the launch from Patna, said the next transfer of money would be on October 3.

Saying that his government has had a long-standing emphasis on women’s empowerment, Nitish highlighted moves such as 50% reservation for women in panchayats (2006) and urban local bodies (2007), 35% reservation for women in the police force (2013) and state government jobs (2016), and support for self-help groups under the Jeevika initiative.

“Previous governments did not work for women. When he (RJD chief Lalu Prasad) stepped down (as chief minister) after seven years, he made his wife the chief minister. Did they ever give space to anyone else in government? They only cared about their family,” Nitish said, adding, “We do not work for our family. We work for all of Bihar. Now, the Prime Minister himself is working for you, so you must stand tall with him.”

Expressing confidence in the beneficiaries, Kumar said, “I am sure all the mothers and sisters will use the financial assistance wisely and make their families happy while contributing to the development of the state and the country.”

Officials report an overwhelming response to the scheme, with significant participation from both rural and urban women. In rural areas, around 2 crore women, mostly affiliated with JEEViKA SHGs, have already registered. In urban areas, over 6 lakh women have applied, officials said, adding that thousands more, from both rural and urban regions, are in the process of joining self-help groups to become eligible for the programme.

Last year, election-bound Maharashtra and Jharkhand also announced cash-transfer schemes for women. Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra, Rs 1,500 is transferred monthly to women in the 21-65 age bracket and whose family income is under Rs 2.5 lakh annually. Under Jharkhand’s Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, women in the 21-50 age group, from families whose incomes fall outside the income tax bracket, are given Rs 1,000 a month. Haryana on Thursday launched the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, under which Rs 2,100 is transferred monthly to women under 23 with an annual family income of under Rs 1 lakh, fulfilling a key promise that the BJP made ahead of the October 2024 Assembly election.