LAUNCH OF THE SAMRIDDH MAHILA, SAMRIDDH BIHAR ABHIYAN

LAUNCH OF THE SAMRIDDH MAHILA, SAMRIDDH BIHAR ABHIYAN

28-AUG-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the ‘Samriddh Mahila–Samriddh Bihar Abhiyan’ was launched by the Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Samrat Chaudhary, with the aim of making the women of Bihar economically empowered, self-reliant, and entrepreneurial. The state-level event, held at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, was attended by Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri Bijendra Prasad Yadav; Minister of Rural Development and Information & Public Relations Shri Shravan Kumar; and Minister of Prohibition, Excise & Registration Shri Madan Sahni, alongside senior officials, Jeevika functionaries and staff, as well as 'Jeevika Didis' (women members) and female beneficiaries from various districts who joined via video conferencing.

During the event, a total of ₹600 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of 5 lakh female beneficiaries under the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana' (Chief Minister's Women's Employment Scheme). Additionally, loans were provided to 10,000 female beneficiaries through the Jeevika Fund. Construction work for 112 rural markets (*haats*) was inaugurated to provide local market access to women entrepreneurs and producer groups. Booklets themed around ‘Nari Shakti Se Samriddh Bihar’ (Prosperous Bihar through Women's Power) and the ‘Samriddh Mahila–Samriddh Bihar Abhiyan’ were also released on this occasion; these booklets feature inspiring stories of women who became economically empowered and achieved 'Lakhpati' status (annual income exceeding ₹1 lakh) after associating with Jeevika. Under the campaign, special emphasis is being placed on boosting women's income and economic participation by integrating them into the entire value chain—encompassing production, skill development, entrepreneurship, and market access.

In this context, 'Jivika Didis' (women associated with the Jivika initiative) and female beneficiaries watched the live broadcast of the state-level program at the auditorium of the Bhojpur Collectorate. Honorable MLAs Shri Vishal Prashant and Shri Mahesh Paswan, District Magistrate Shri Manesh Kumar Meena, and the Deputy Development Commissioner were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, District Magistrate Shri Manesh Kumar Meena stated that the 'Samriddh Mahila–Samriddh Bihar' (Prosperous Women–Prosperous Bihar) campaign is a significant initiative aimed not only at economically empowering women but also at making them active partners in their families and the local economy. In Bhojpur, a large number of women are engaging in various self-employment and income-generating activities through the Jivika program. The district administration is striving to ensure effective coordination to provide 'Jivika Didis' with training, financial assistance, technical support, and better market access for their products.

The District Magistrate noted that women's economic self-reliance leads to an increase in family income and also strengthens the rural economy.