News Brief
Nitish Kumar Bets Big On Women-Centric Schemes Ahead Of Bihar Assembly Polls
Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar (File Photo)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rolled out a series of welfare schemes targeting women ahead of the Assembly polls, aiming to consolidate a voter base that has grown increasingly decisive in recent elections, reported The Indian Express.
On 24 June, the Cabinet raised monthly pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100.
The government credited the first instalment of over Rs 1,227 crore on 11 July directly into the accounts of 1.11 crore beneficiaries, 54.5 per cent of whom are women.
On 8 July, the Cabinet restricted the existing 35 per cent quota for women in state government jobs to Bihar residents.
Later, on 30 July, Nitish Kumar increased the monthly honorarium for ASHA workers from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 and doubled Mamata (maternal health) worker incentives from Rs 300 to Rs 600 per delivery.
One woman in every family will receive Rs 10,000 to start an activity, with a follow-up grant of up to Rs 2 lakh after six months. The state will also set up local “haat bazaars” for women entrepreneurs.
On 2 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Rs 105 crore for the Jeevika Bank, a co-op for women’s self-help groups that Nitish launched in 2006. Today, it covers 11 lakh SHGs with 1.4 crore women members.
Women’s turnout has consistently surpassed men’s in Bihar polls, with Kumar earlier introducing initiatives such as 50 per cent reservation in local bodies, free bicycles for schoolgirls, 35 per cent quota in state jobs, and financial aid through the Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana.
