Patna, Nov 28 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday transferred assistance of Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 10 lakh women under the Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme. Assuring continued support to women entrepreneurs, he announced that those who expand their businesses will be provided an additional financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh.

More than 1.46 crore women had received this assistance before the Assembly elections. With the inclusion of 10 lakh beneficiaries on Friday, the total number of women who have benefited from the scheme has reached 1.56 crore. He assured that the remaining applicants will also receive assistance by next month.

Addressing the beneficiaries through video-conferencing, he said, “With the help provided through this scheme, many women have started enterprises of their choice. Those who successfully run their businesses will be given further support of up to Rs 2 lakh. This will greatly benefit women across all families in Bihar.”

The Chief Minister reminded the audience that his government has prioritised women’s empowerment since the beginning and will continue these efforts in this term as well.

“In 2006, we introduced reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions, and in 2007 we implemented 50% reservation for women in urban local bodies. In 2013, 35% reservation was introduced for women in police recruitment, and in 2016, the same level of reservation was extended to all government jobs,” he said.

Highlighting the success of self-help groups (SHGs) under the Jeevika programme, he noted that the number of Jeevika Didis in rural areas has reached 1.40 crore, in addition to over 4.34 lakh Jeevika Didis active in urban areas.

“We will continue to do more in the future,” he assured.
UNI IM SAS RN