Patna | September 29, 2025

For more than a decade, women have been at the heart of welfare policies under the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and NDA governments in states. Recognizing women as the foundation of families and communities, the push for their socio-economic empowerment has been steady and deliberate. The recently launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana (MMRY) in Bihar is the latest and perhaps one of the most ambitious steps in this journey.

The scheme, inaugurated on August 29, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and implemented by the Bihar government, seeks to empower women by enabling them to start their own enterprises. The Rural Development Department, through Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (Jeevika), will oversee its execution in rural areas, while the Urban Development Department will manage it in cities.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility has been carefully designed to reach women most in need of economic support. Beneficiaries must be women aged between 18 and 60, residents of Bihar, and members of self-help groups (SHGs). Neither they nor their spouses should be government employees or income tax payers. Families are defined as husband, wife, and unmarried children, with provisions also made for unmarried women without parents.

How It Works

Each eligible woman will initially receive ₹10,000 to begin her enterprise. Importantly, this is not a cash handout but a seed corpus intended to help start a business. Depending on the progress of the enterprise and post-training assessments, women can access up to ₹2 lakh in additional support. With around 75 lakh women expected to benefit, the scheme has the potential to trigger a wave of grassroots entrepreneurship.

Strengthening SHGs

The Mahila Rozgar Yojana builds on the strong foundation of self-help groups revitalized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). As of June 2025, India had 91 lakh SHGs with nearly 10 crore women members. In Bihar, Jeevika has created 10.6 lakh SHGs, enabling rural women to access microloans, start businesses, and take leadership roles in their communities.

From small shops to manufacturing units, SHGs have already proven to be vital engines of local economic growth. The new scheme further strengthens this ecosystem by addressing financial gaps that often prevent women-led businesses from scaling up. What begins with a modest corpus of ₹10,000 could, over time, grow into enterprises requiring regular credit lines of ₹1 lakh or more.

Linked to National Vision

The programme also aligns with the Modi government’s Lakhpati Didi initiative, which aims to help women in SHGs achieve household incomes of over ₹1 lakh annually. Launched in 2023, it has since been expanded to target 3 crore women. While the MUDRA scheme focused on supporting existing entrepreneurs, Mahila Rozgar Yojana widens the net, giving first-time women entrepreneurs the credit and confidence to launch new ventures.

A New Dawn for Bihar’s Women

For women in Bihar—a state once infamous for its law-and-order troubles—the scheme offers a pathway to self-reliance and dignity. It promises not just financial upliftment but social transformation, as women gain the means to contribute directly to household and community prosperity.

As the saying goes, when you educate a woman, you educate a generation. By economically empowering women, Bihar now has the chance to uplift generations to come. The Mahila Rozgar Yojana is more than a welfare programme—it is a leap towards reshaping the state’s future through women’s success stories.

 Mahila Rozgar Yojana: Empowering Bihar’s Women

Bihar has launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to boost women’s economic independence. The scheme offers an initial ₹10,000 to eligible women to start small businesses, with up to ₹2 lakh in further support after training and assessment. Targeting around 75 lakh women, it focuses on members of self-help groups, ensuring opportunities reach those most in need. Implemented through Jeevika in rural areas and the Urban Development Department in cities, the programme strengthens SHGs and aligns with the Lakhpati Didi initiative, paving the way for self-reliance and inclusive growth in Bihar.