Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched Bihar's Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, and transferred Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women, and also called up on women to ensure RJD and allies never returned to power.
Launching the scheme via video conferencing, Modi appealed to everybody not to forget the days when Bihar was under the opposition rule- “the era of lantern governance” - when women bore the brunt of lawlessness and corruption. He also recalled how the state`s major roads were in dilapidated condition, bridges were non-existent, and women suffered the most due to poor infrastructure.
During floods, the hardships intensified, with pregnant women unable to reach hospitals on time and lacking access to proper treatment in critical situations, he added.
The PM asserted that under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar, the rule of law had been restored in Bihar, and women had been the primary beneficiaries of this change.
“Daughters of Bihar now step out of their homes without fear and have the freedom to work even late at night," he commented, while expressing his satisfaction over witnessing the large deployment of women police personnel during his visits to the state. “I urge everyone to collectively pledge that Bihar must never return to the darkness of the past,” he remarked.
He asserted that Bihar’s women now had two brothers -Nitish and Modi - who are working together for betterment, prosperity, and dignity of the women of the state. “A brother finds true happiness when his sister is healthy, prosperous, and her family is economically strong. A brother does whatever he can to ensure this wellbeing. Today (Friday)`s programme is a testament to this commitment,” he remarked.
Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana is an initiative of Bihar government, aimed at making women self-dependent and promoting women’s empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities. Under it, each beneficiary will receive an initial grant of Rs 10,000 via DBT, with the possibility of additional financial support of up to Rs 2 lakh in subsequent phases for self employment.
