The Bihar government, in collaboration with the central government, has launched the Mahila Rozgar Yojana (MMRY) to promote women’s self-employment and economic independence. Virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 29, 2025, the scheme aims to enable one woman per family to start her own enterprise, leveraging both rural and urban development channels.
Implemented through the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (Jeevika) and urban authorities, the program targets women aged 18–60 who are members of self-help groups (SHGs) and whose families are not income-tax payers or government employees. Initially, each beneficiary receives ₹10,000 as seed capital, with potential additional support up to ₹2 lakh post-assessment and training. The funds are intended as investment capital rather than cash transfers.
The initiative builds on the success of SHGs under the DAY-NRLM program, which currently has over 91 lakh groups with 10 crore women nationwide. In Bihar, Jeevika operates 10.6 lakh SHGs, providing micro-loans, skill development, and entrepreneurial support. MMRY further strengthens these efforts, allowing women to start ventures ranging from small shops to manufacturing units, with potential to expand locally and regionally.
Aligned with the Lakhpati Didi initiative, MMRY emphasizes financial inclusion, skill training, and entrepreneurship to achieve an annual household income of over ₹1 lakh. Unlike MUDRA, which supports existing enterprises, Mahila Rozgar Yojana opens credit lines to aspiring women entrepreneurs, ensuring broad access to capital.
Officials highlight that empowering women economically not only benefits households but also uplifts entire communities. The scheme aims to create a new generation of women-led businesses, foster Swadeshi production, and contribute to inclusive state growth, marking a significant step toward gender equality and self-reliance.