PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Monday that Rs 2,100 crore has been directly transferred into the bank accounts of 21 lakh women beneficiaries under the “Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana” (MMRY), aimed at enabling them to start their own businesses. This brings the total amount disbursed under the scheme to Rs 12,100 crore for 1.21 crore women, with each recipient receiving Rs 10,000.
The scheme, officially launched on September 26, sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi having previously transferred Rs 7,500 crore to 75 lakh women via videoconference from New Delhi, in collaboration with CM Nitish Kumar. Just a week later, on October 3, Kumar transferred another Rs 2,500 crore benefiting 25 lakh women through direct bank transfers (DBT).
The initiative, approved by the state cabinet on August 29, aims to empower women by providing them financial assistance to start businesses of their choice. Kumar stated that the principal goal of the MMRY is to offer financial aid to one woman from every family, enabling them to establish their enterprises. Initially, each beneficiary will receive Rs 10,000, followed by potential additional support of up to Rs 2 lakh after performance evaluation.
Kumar expressed confidence that the implementation of the scheme would not only enhance the status of women but also foster better employment opportunities in the state. He emphasized the scheme’s focus on promoting self-reliance and economic growth at both state and national levels.
Beneficiaries like Lalita Singh from Banka and Sangeeta Devi from Muzaffarpur shared their experiences with various government schemes, including the MMRY. Singh highlighted how initiatives such as the Mukhya Mantri Vridhjan Pension Yojana, which increased monthly pensions from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, positively impacted her family. Devi remarked on how Kumar’s initiatives facilitated her daughters’ education, mentioning amounts of Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 they received upon completing intermediate and graduation, respectively. She expressed her optimism about the assistance received for her business venture, anticipating the potential for further financial support.
