Patna: Bihar has disbursed ₹17,300 crore to JEEViKA women under government initiatives, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar said on Thursday. The government has also announced fresh assistance for 5 lakh women under the Chief Minister Mahila Rojgar Yojana.
₹17,300 Crore Reaches JEEViKA Women
JEEViKA has grown into a major women-led rural development network since its launch in Bihar in 2006. More than 11.88 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) now have around 1.81 crore women members.
The state has provided ₹16,700 crore under the Chief Minister’s Incentive Scheme, while another ₹600 crore was released on Thursday, taking the total disbursement to ₹17,300 crore.
JEEViKA women have also received more than ₹74,100 crore in bank loans. Kumar said around 99% of the women have repaid their loans.
Read Also: Bihar Sugarcane Mechanisation Scheme Gets 4,600 Farmer Applications, 110 Groups Also Apply
5 Lakh Women to Receive Financial Assistance
At the Samriddh Mahila-Samriddh Bihar programme at Bapu Sabhagar, Gandhi Maidan, Kumar said the government is focusing on strengthening women’s economic independence.
Under the seventh phase of the Chief Minister Mahila Rojgar Yojana:
- 4 lakh women will receive ₹10,000 each.
- 1 lakh women will receive ₹20,000 as the second instalment.
- 10,000 women will receive ₹50 crore in loans through the JEEViKA fund.
The minister said the financial support is helping JEEViKA women become economically stronger and move towards becoming Lakhpati Didis.
Better Markets for JEEViKA Products
The government also plans to create modern markets and haats from the panchayat to district levels. These facilities will help JEEViKA women sell their products at better prices and gain wider recognition.
The proposed markets will also have technological links with national and international platforms, potentially giving locally produced goods access to larger markets.
Alternative Livelihoods for Rural Families
Kumar highlighted Bihar’s Sustainable Livelihood Scheme, under which around 2.01 lakh families dependent on activities such as toddy and liquor sales were identified.
These families received financial assistance ranging from ₹1 to ₹2 lakh to adopt alternative livelihood opportunities.
Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the Samriddh Mahila, Samriddh Bihar campaign would strengthen the state’s women empowerment efforts.
Prohibition Minister Madan Sahni also highlighted the role of JEEViKA women during the COVID-19 period, including efforts to connect disadvantaged families with ration cards and supporting work at Anganwadi centres.
The government’s initiatives aim to expand women-led livelihoods, improve access to finance and create stronger market opportunities for rural women across Bihar.
Read Also: Bihar: Patna Mind Fest 2026 Concludes, Winners Honoured Across Five Contests
