Bihar CM Nitish Kumar transfers Rs 10k each to 25 lakh women under Mahila Rojgar Yojana

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday transferred Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 25 lakh women under the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’ , disbursing a total of Rs 2,500 crore via direct benefit transfer (DBT) at a function at his official residence, officials said. The scheme, launched on September 26, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , began with a first large‑scale transfer of Rs 10,000 each to about 75 lakh women. In the subsequent months, the Bihar government continued phased transfers, disbursing funds to additional batches of tens of lakhs of eligible women, making this latest 25‑lakh transfer part of the ongoing rollout.

According to government figures, Bihar has around 3.62 crore eligible women for the programme, but only 1.81 crore have so far received Rs 10,000 each under the scheme. Beneficiaries who successfully use the initial grant to set up businesses will be eligible for additional financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh in subsequent phases to scale their ventures, with the assistance tied to performance milestones and participation in capacity‑building initiatives. Critics have pointed out that nearly half of the intended beneficiaries are still waiting for the first installment , raising concerns over delays, phased rollout, and slow access for all eligible women .

Officials describe the initiative as part of a broader strategy to enhance women’s economic participation, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, tailoring, handicrafts, animal husbandry and other micro‑enterprises , supported by training and market linkage efforts through local self‑help groups.

However,On September 27, 2025 , just before the Bihar assembly elections , Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Bihar government, accusing it of using the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana as a vote‑buying tactic . She questioned why such transfers were introduced only then, argued that one-time cash alone does not ensure empowerment , and raised doubts about whether the payments are regular or an “election‑linked dole.”

Economic analysts note that while direct cash transfers can offer short‑term financial relief, long‑term economic empowerment depends on effective business support, training, access to credit and market opportunities . There are concerns among experts that without these complementary measures, such programmes risk becoming temporary welfare measures rather than sustainable livelihood generators.

The Bihar government, for its part, has defended the scheme as a major step toward inclusive growth, asserting that phased financing and structured support will help beneficiaries transition from subsistence activities to self‑employment and entrepreneurship , thereby strengthening women’s financial independence across the state.