Bihar Assembly Passes Rs 91,717 Crore Supplementary Budget, Highlights Women’s Empowerment Through JEEViKA

The Bihar Assembly on Friday passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 91,717 crore and the appropriation bill here.

Replying on behalf of the government to the debate on the Rural Development department, Bihar Minister Shrawan Kumar said that with nearly 89 percent of the state's population residing in rural areas, the Rural Development Department continues to play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and livelihood creation.

The minister said that the department oversees various flagship schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Sahayata Yojana, MGNREGA, Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, Aadhaar registration, Social Audit Society programmes, Development Management Institute activities and JEEViKA. The department enjoys significant public confidence, especially among poorer rural families who rely extensively on these welfare initiatives, he informed.

Kumar said that that nearly 1.40 crore women across Bihar are now associated with JEEViKA's self-help group network, and the enrolment of interested women is continuing steadily. Numerous livelihood schemes are being implemented to strengthen women's income and promote self-reliance.

He highlighted that during Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's 20 year tenure, JEEViKA has provided women an opportunity to live with dignity and enhanced economic independence. Started in 2006 with World Bank assistance, Bihar became the first Indian state to adopt such a large scale women empowerment model, he added.

He said that over 42.54 lakh women are engaged in agriculture-related work and more than 12.40 lakh families are earning through livestock activities.

The minister stated that the tailoring centres in every block are offering training and employment. So far, over 40,000 women have been trained, and in the financial year 2025 -26 alone, more than 50,000 JEEViKA members secured employment through these programmes.

The state government has assigned various responsibilities to JEEViKA members, Kumar said, adding that 1 lakh women have gained self-employment through the stitching of clothes for children in Anganwadi centres. JEEViKA members have also been appointed as counsellors in state hospitals to improve healthcare services. Cooking and sanitation work in all medical colleges, district hospitals, Sadar hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals has been handed over to JEEViKA groups, providing employment to 3,960 women.

He said that additionally, 7,754 women have been entrusted with the upkeep and maintenance of ponds across the state, offering them sustained livelihood support. In total, over 90.68 lakh women are earning annually through these diverse initiatives.

Kumar said that the skill development efforts across the state have resulted in employment opportunities for more than 4.08 lakh youth. Over 31.71 lakh JEEViKA members have now become "Lakhpati Didis." Many of these women earlier earned just Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 but have now significantly enhanced their incomes through government-supported livelihood ventures. Currently, 34,489 women are earning a combined annual income of Rs 1.20 crore, with a total annual turnover of Rs 128 crore across these sectors.

He said that Bihar is the first state where each household's woman has been given the freedom to choose her preferred livelihood activity, for which Rs 10,000 is deposited directly into her bank account. The government said this financial support aims to raise family income and improve living standards.

To promote the sale of women's products, haat and market facilities are being expanded from villages to cities. Under this scheme, more than 1.56 crore women have already received Rs 10,000 in their accounts for undertaking livelihood activities.

JEEViKA has also been recognised at the national level as a National Resource Organization for community institutions, health and empowerment. JEEViKA members from Bihar are now providing training in several other states, including Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Kumar criticised the opposition for misleading women by claiming that the Rs 10,000 assistance would have to be returned. He said the attempt failed because women did not fall for the misinformation.

Kumar further said that whenever the opposition tries to "finish" Nitish Kumar politically, the people respond by giving him a stronger mandate. Citing the recent elections, he said the JD(U)-led development model has left the opposition "completely defeated," resulting in the RJD being restricted to just 35 seats.

Later, the second supplementry and the related appropriation bills were passed in the house after which it was adjourned sine die.