Jeevika Transforms Lives: Empowering Over 35 Lakh Women in Bihar Through Self-Employment

Jeevika has become an example of women empowerment in Bihar. Today, lakhs of rural women are coming out of the vicious circle of poverty by joining the Jeevika project. In Bihar, 35 lakh 89 thousand Jeevika didis have become self-reliant by doing self-employment related to agriculture. So far, 515 custom hiring centers are being operated in coordination with the Agriculture Department. 5 thousand 178 agricultural enterprises have been established in the agriculture sector.

At the same time, with the help of Animal and Fisheries Resources Department, 8.09 lakh families have been linked to poultry and goat rearing under the Integrated Goat and Sheep Development Scheme apart from Integrated Poultry Development. 1.42 lakh families are associated with milk production. About 1 thousand Jeevika didis are associated with fisheries. So far, 5,987 Pashu Sakhis have been trained, who are providing services to 5.97 lakh families engaged in goat rearing.

Seemanchal Goat Producer Company has been established in Araria, which has linked 19 thousand 956 families so far. With the help of National Dairy Development Board, 829 milk collection centers have been opened so far under Kaushiki Milk Producer Company established in Koshi division. So far 26,280 cattle farmers are selling milk in these milk collection centers and an average of 70 thousand liters of milk is being collected through these centers every day. So far 490 producer groups have been formed for beekeeping work. With the help of IIM Kolkata, enterprise development of 150 sisters has been done in the field of women entrepreneurship so far.

Saving accounts of 10.36 lakh self-help groups have been opened

Since 2006, 10.63 lakh self-help groups have been formed. More than 1 crore 35 lakh families have been linked to it. So far, savings accounts of 10.36 lakh self-help groups of Jeevika sisters have been opened. An amount of Rs 48 thousand 516 crore has been made available to self-help groups by various banks in the form of loans.

Case-1

Lavang Kumari, a resident of Dakshin Muradpur Panchayat of Kursela block of Katihar district, is providing services as a Pashu Sakhi. She earns 2 to 3 thousand rupees a month from this self-employment. Lavang is providing many essential services to the goat rearers of her area. Not only this, she has also worked to reduce the mortality rate of goats by vaccinating 840 goats against ET and TT before the rains last year.

Case-2

Deepa Kumari of Dakshin Ahmedabad Panchayat of Ahmedabad block of Katihar district made herself self-reliant after joining Jeevika. By joining Jeevika Self Help Group, she opened her grocery shop by taking a loan of Rs 20 thousand. She expanded the shop by taking a loan of Rs 50 thousand again from the group. From this, she now earns Rs 15 thousand per month. Case – 3

Meera Devi, a resident of Chiraiya village of Puranhiya block of Sheohar district, earns 3 lakh 60 thousand rupees by rearing buffaloes and selling earthen cups. Meera Devi, who was once facing financial crisis, became self-reliant by joining Jeevika. She bought a new buffalo by taking a loan of 50 thousand rupees from Jeevika Self Help Group. This increased her income. After her financial condition improved, she took a loan of 70 thousand rupees from the group and set up a plant to make earthen cups. She earns 25 to 30 thousand rupees from this.