Patna: The Bihar government has launched three major initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education, entrepreneurship and safety for women and girls in the state. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the schemes at Gyan Bhawan in Patna on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The initiatives include the Mukhyamantri Balika PhD Fellowship, the Bihar Ki Beti Startup Scheme and the Police Didi Abhaya Brigade. Together, they seek to provide financial support for higher education, encourage women to start businesses and improve safety around educational institutions and public places.
₹10,000 Monthly Fellowship for PhD Scholars
The Mukhyamantri Balika PhD Fellowship aims to encourage more girls to pursue advanced studies and research.
Under the scheme, selected female PhD scholars will receive ₹10,000 per month for four years. Around 1,000 research scholars are expected to benefit during the initial phase.
The financial support is intended to help students continue their research without having to discontinue their studies because of financial difficulties.
The initiative also places greater emphasis on women’s participation in higher education and research, areas where financial constraints can often affect the ability of students to complete long-term academic programmes.
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Bihar Ki Beti Startup Scheme to Support Women Entrepreneurs
The Bihar government has also introduced the Bihar Ki Beti Startup Scheme to encourage women and young girls to move from seeking employment to creating employment opportunities.
Women starting a new business or startup will be eligible for financial assistance ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh.
Initially, around 2,100 women entrepreneurs will be covered under the initiative.
The scheme is expected to provide women with financial backing at the early stage of setting up businesses. By supporting entrepreneurship, the government aims to expand opportunities for women to become economically independent and contribute to local employment generation.
Police Didi Brigade to Strengthen Women’s Safety
The third major initiative focuses on the safety of women and students.
The government has launched the Police Didi, or Abhaya Brigade, to strengthen security in areas frequently visited by women and girls. As part of the initiative, 4,700 two-wheelers, including scooters and motorcycles, were flagged off for the women’s safety force.
The special teams will patrol areas around schools, colleges and major markets. Their presence is intended to improve monitoring and provide a greater sense of security to female students and women.
The initiative adds a dedicated field-level component to the state’s efforts to address concerns around women’s safety in public spaces.
Free Government Bus Travel During Raksha Bandhan
Alongside the three schemes, the Bihar government has also provided free travel for women on government buses for two days on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The measure is aimed at facilitating travel for women during the festival while adding a public-transport benefit to the wider package of women-focused initiatives announced by the state government.
Focus on Education, Entrepreneurship and Safety
The three schemes cover different aspects of women’s empowerment. The PhD fellowship focuses on higher education and research, the startup scheme provides financial assistance for entrepreneurship, while the Police Didi initiative focuses on safety.
The government’s approach links women’s welfare with education, economic independence and participation in public life. Financial assistance for researchers and entrepreneurs can help women pursue opportunities that may otherwise remain difficult because of limited resources.
At the same time, stronger safety arrangements around educational institutions and markets can support women’s mobility and participation in these spaces.
A Wider Push for Women’s Empowerment
The launch of the schemes on Raksha Bandhan also gives the initiatives a broader social context, with the government emphasising the dignity, security and self-reliance of women and girls.
With 1,000 PhD scholars targeted under the fellowship, 2,100 women entrepreneurs under the startup scheme and 4,700 vehicles deployed for the Police Didi initiative, the programmes combine financial assistance with grassroots safety measures.
The broader significance lies in creating an ecosystem where women can pursue higher education, start businesses and participate more confidently in public spaces. If implemented effectively, the initiatives could strengthen women’s economic independence and contribute to Bihar’s wider development.
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