Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed the launch, stating that ₹1,000 crore has been approved for the scheme, with ₹105 crore already deposited. He also confirmed that the Centre will contribute ₹110 crore to strengthen the fund. “This initiative will help Jeevika sisters get loans at affordable rates, supporting their small businesses,” Kumar said.
Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary added that over 1.40 crore women in Bihar are engaged in cottage industries under Jeevika groups, generating a business of ₹56,000 crore annually. He credited women’s entrepreneurship with contributing significantly to Bihar’s GST collection.
Boosting Women’s Empowerment
PM Modi emphasized that women’s empowerment is central to the vision of a developed India. He cited initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Har Ghar Jal Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and the free ration scheme as steps designed to improve women’s lives. He also highlighted programmes like Lakhpati Didi, Drone Didi, and Bank Sakhi to boost women’s income.
“Crores of toilets, houses in women’s names, and healthcare support are all part of our mission to reduce women’s hardships. With Jeevika Nidhi, women will now get affordable financial access to expand their livelihoods,” the PM said.
Upcoming Projects in Bihar
The launch of Jeevika Nidhi follows the Bihar cabinet’s approval of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which provides ₹10,000 as the first instalment to one eligible woman per family. Modi is scheduled to visit Bihar again on September 15 to inaugurate Purnia airport and launch several other development projects.
Nearly 20 lakh women from different districts of Bihar joined the online event, underscoring the scale of participation and the government’s focus on grassroots-level empowerment ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.