The Bihar Government has launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme) to promote women-led entrepreneurship and self-employment across the State. Under the scheme, one woman from every family will receive financial assistance to establish a business of her choice. The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who also inaugurated the scheme's online portal and flagged off publicity vans to create awareness among beneficiaries.
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana marks an important policy initiative aimed at transforming women from beneficiaries of welfare programmes into entrepreneurs and income generators. Rather than focusing solely on social assistance, the scheme adopts an enterprise-based livelihood model, encouraging women to establish sustainable economic activities and participate actively in the State's economy.A key feature of the scheme is that one eligible woman from every family will receive an initial financial assistance of ₹10,000 through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The amount is intended to help beneficiaries establish a business or livelihood activity of their own choice. By allowing women to select enterprises according to local resources, market demand, and personal skills, the scheme provides flexibility while promoting entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.The scheme further incorporates a performance-linked support mechanism. After six months of commencement of the business, an assessment of the enterprise will be undertaken. Depending on the progress and requirements of the beneficiary, the government may provide additional financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh in the subsequent phase. This phased approach encourages effective utilisation of initial assistance while supporting expansion of successful enterprises.Another significant aspect of the programme is its focus on market linkage, recognising that financial assistance alone is insufficient for sustainable entrepreneurship. The government has proposed the development of local markets (haat bazaars) across villages and towns to facilitate marketing and sale of products manufactured by women beneficiaries. Such market infrastructure is expected to improve income generation, strengthen rural value chains, and encourage local economic development.Institutionally, the scheme follows a collaborative implementation model. While the Rural Development Department serves as the nodal department, execution has been entrusted to the Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (BRLPS) – JEEViKA, which possesses extensive experience in organising women's Self Help Groups (SHGs), livelihood promotion, financial inclusion, and rural entrepreneurship.The initiative also aligns with the broader objectives of women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion, employment generation, and inclusive rural development. By promoting women-owned micro-enterprises, the scheme has the potential to increase female labour force participation, improve household incomes, and strengthen Bihar's rural economy.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana |
| State | Bihar |
| Target Beneficiary | One eligible woman from every family |
| Initial Financial Assistance | ₹10,000 |
| Mode of Transfer | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| Additional Assistance | Up to ₹2 lakh after six-month assessment |
| Nodal Department | Rural Development Department |
| Implementing Agency | Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (JEEViKA) |
| Marketing Support | Development of local Haat Bazaars |
| Portal | Dedicated online portal launched |
The scheme is expected to:
A Haat Bazaar is a periodic rural market where producers directly sell agricultural produce, handicrafts, food products, and locally manufactured goods.
Updated – 07 September 2025 | 04:42 PMNews Source: