Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will transfer ₹10,000 directly into bank accounts of over one crore women this week
PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will transfer ₹10,000 directly into bank accounts of over one crore women this week under the newly launched ‘Mahila Rozgar Yojana’ (Women’s Employment Scheme) on September 26, this appears to be a strategic move to woo female voters ahead of upcoming assembly elections.
₹10,000 Initial Payment, ₹2 Lakh Business Funding Promised
The scheme, announced on August 29, targets women aged 18-60 for business development with an initial ₹10,000 payment on September 26, followed by up to ₹2 lakh after business plan evaluation. Only women connected to the Jeevika project and from families not in the income tax bracket or government employment are eligible.
This marks Bihar’s latest addition to its comprehensive women welfare ecosystem. The state already operates six direct cash transfer schemes including divorced women support (₹25,000), enhanced widow pensions (increased from ₹400 to ₹1,100 monthly), and girl child development benefits totalling ₹65,000 from birth to graduation.
Opposition Promises Higher Monthly Payouts
Opposition parties have countered with bigger promises. RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav has pledged ₹2,500 monthly to all women under “Mai Bahen Maan Yojana,” while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj offers ₹20,000 monthly family support through “Parivar Labh Card.”
The timing reflects a national trend where cash transfers influence electoral outcomes. In 13 state elections between November 2023-2024, parties implementing women-centric cash schemes won in 8 out of 9 states, including Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
Women Voters Decisive in 167 Bihar Constituencies
Women voters have become decisive in Bihar politics, with female turnout consistently exceeding male participation. In 2020 elections, 59.7% women voted compared to 54.6% men, determining outcomes in 167 of 243 constituencies.
Expert Analysis: “Nitish’s scheme incorporates entrepreneurship unlike opposition’s direct freebies, but the electoral timing is unmistakable,” says Dr. Aviral Pandey, Patna University. With Bihar’s 94 lakh families earning below ₹6,000 monthly, even modest cash transfers represent significant household income boosts.
The ₹1,000 crore investment could prove crucial for Nitish Kumar’s bid to counter 20-year anti-incumbency sentiment.
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