Bihar Rolls Out ₹22,000 Crore Welfare Transfers and Projects to Drive Inclusive Growth
SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Institutions: Government of Bihar | Ministry of Rural Development | Ministry of Women and Child Development
Bihar’s Chief Minister has launched the Women Employment Scheme and inaugurated development projects across Darbhanga, Madhubani, Katihar, Vaishali, and Gopalganj, mobilising a combined ₹22,000 crore in commitments.
The Women Employment Scheme, unveiled jointly with the Prime Minister, transferred ₹10,000 each to 7.5 million women (₹7,500 crore via DBT) with provision for up to ₹2 lakh in additional support for sustainable ventures. This builds on Bihar’s track record of women’s empowerment through reservations, SHGs under Jeevika, and employment-linked benefits.
In parallel, development projects worth ₹14,700 crore were rolled out:
Darbhanga: 97 schemes (₹3,463 crore) spanning welfare, infrastructure, and pensions.
Madhubani: 25 schemes (₹8,329 crore), anchored by the ₹7,832 crore West Kosi Canal modernisation.
Katihar: 242 schemes (₹583 crore), including rail overbridges and Gogabeel Lake conservation.
Vaishali: 331 schemes (₹745 crore) covering drainage, healthcare, and a new college.
Gopalganj: 185 schemes (₹1,586 crore), including bypass roads, industrial links, and welfare measures.
Beneficiaries across districts reported pension increases, higher honoraria for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, 125 units of free electricity, and new pensions like the Artist Scheme, reflecting a hybrid model that links hard infrastructure with social protection.
Bihar’s approach demonstrates how large-scale DBT-driven empowerment and welfare-linked infrastructure can reinforce each other, reducing inequalities while boosting local economies. It highlights the state’s attempt to build a fiscally ambitious but socially inclusive development template.
What is the Women Employment Scheme?
→ A DBT-based programme providing upfront transfers (₹10,000 each) to women, with additional credit up to ₹2 lakh for ventures, designed to expand women’s self-employment and labour force participation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
Can Bihar’s ₹22,000 crore model of combined cash transfers and infrastructure expansion serve as a sustainable template for other states seeking inclusive growth?
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https://state.bihar.gov.in/prdbihar/cache/10/29-Sep-25/SHOW_DOCS/cm%20-%20472.pdf
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https://state.bihar.gov.in/prdbihar/cache/10/29-Sep-25/SHOW_DOCS/cm%20-%20475.pdf
https://state.bihar.gov.in/prdbihar/cache/10/29-Sep-25/SHOW_DOCS/cm%20-%20482.pdf
https://state.bihar.gov.in/prdbihar/cache/10/29-Sep-25/SHOW_DOCS/cm%20-%20480.pdf