PM Modi launches Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, transfers Rs 7,500 crore to 75 lakh women

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana via video conferencing, marking a major step towards empowering women through self-employment and livelihood opportunities. As part of the launch, the Prime Minister transferred ₹10,000 each directly into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women across Bihar – a financial infusion totaling ₹7,500 crore.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi extended festive greetings on the occasion of Navratri and said the launch marks a “historic milestone for the daughters of Bihar.” He stressed that when a woman engages in employment or self-employment, “her dreams gain new wings and her respect in society grows.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity in enabling seamless Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), noting that such large-scale financial inclusion would not have been possible without the Jan Dhan Yojana launched 11 years ago.

“Without this infrastructure, the money would have been lost in transit, resulting in grave injustice to beneficiaries,” PM Modi said.

Calling himself and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar “brothers working for the prosperity and dignity of women,” PM Modi said the scheme guarantees that at least one woman per family will receive financial support. Beneficiaries will start with an initial grant of ₹10,000, with the potential to access up to ₹2 lakh based on the success of their ventures.

Women can use the funds to start businesses such as grocery, cosmetics, stationery shops, cattle rearing, poultry farming, and other small enterprises. Training and capacity-building support will be provided through Bihar’s extensive network of nearly 11 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The scheme will also leverage the recently launched Jeevika Nidhi Credit Cooperative Society to ensure smooth implementation.

PM Modi said the initiative strengthens the Centre’s flagship Lakhpati Didi campaign, which aims to create three crore women earning over ₹1 lakh annually across India. “The day is not far when Bihar will have the highest number of Lakhpati Didis in the country,” he remarked.

The Prime Minister also listed several other initiatives aimed at empowering women, including Mudra Yojana, Drone Didi, Bima Sakhi, and Bank Didi campaigns. He recalled how the state’s women once faced severe hardships during what he termed the “era of lantern governance,” citing poor infrastructure, lawlessness, and Naxalite violence.

“Today, daughters of Bihar step out of their homes without fear and work even late at night,” he said, crediting improved law and order and infrastructure development under the current administration.

Highlighting women-centric welfare policies, PM Modi said over 50 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Bihar are registered in women’s names, while lakhs have received free healthcare under Ayushman Bharat. He also urged women to participate in the recently launched Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, under which over 4.25 lakh health camps are being held nationwide.

The Prime Minister further pointed to the Centre’s recent move to reduce GST rates on essentials such as toothpaste, soap, ghee, clothing, and footwear, calling it a step to ease household budgets during the festive season.

“Whenever women are given opportunities, they bring transformative change to society. The progress of women leads to the progress of the entire nation,” PM Modi concluded, congratulating the women of Bihar on the launch of the scheme.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh were present at the launch event, which was witnessed live by over one crore women across the state.