Ahead of the Bihar Elections 2025, Nitish Kumar has announced 7 schemes to woo women. These include honorarium hikes, self-employment, digital assistance, and reservations. The women's vote bank could alter the electoral equations this time.
Bihar Election 2025: As the Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 draw nearer, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's strategy is becoming increasingly clear. Instead of relying solely on campaigning, he is emphasizing the implementation of schemes on the ground. Specifically, announcing new schemes and decisions with women at the center is a significant part of his political strategy. Political analysts believe that Nitish understood the needs of women during his 'Mahila Samvad Yatra' (Women's Dialogue Tour) and made seven major announcements based on them. The aim of these schemes is to capture the women's vote bank.
Seven Major Announcements That Could Change the Electoral Landscape
In the last two months, Nitish Kumar has made seven announcements that will directly impact women's lives. Schemes related to employment, honorarium increases, self-employment, and reservations will empower women economically and socially.
1 Big Relief for Jeevika Didi
Millions of women in rural areas are associated with Jeevika groups. Nitish Kumar has doubled the honorarium for 1.40 lakh Jeevika workers. Additionally, the interest rate on bank loans has been reduced from 10 percent to 7 percent. This move will not only improve the economic condition of women but also strengthen Nitish's hold in rural areas.
2 Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana
The state government has approved the construction of marriage halls in 8,053 Gram Panchayats. The responsibility for operating these halls will be entrusted to women. This will provide them with employment and opportunities for social participation. This scheme is considered important for women's empowerment as well as from an electoral perspective.
3 Honorarium Increased for Asha and Mamata Workers
Thousands of women are working as Asha and Mamata workers in Bihar. Their honorarium has been recently increased. Asha workers will now receive ₹3,000 and Mamata workers will receive ₹600. Furthermore, the honorarium for Asha facilitators has also been raised. Currently, about 1.20 lakh women are associated with this network. By benefiting all of them, Nitish has attempted to capture a significant women's vote bank.
4 Digital Assistance for Anganwadi Sevikas
Financial assistance of ₹11,000 is being provided to Anganwadi Sevikas for purchasing mobile phones. This decision is a significant step towards connecting women with the digital platform and empowering them technologically. From an electoral standpoint, this scheme directly connects rural women with Nitish.
5 Mukhyamantri Mahila Swarozgar Yojana
This is one of Nitish's most ambitious schemes. Under this scheme, one woman from each family will receive a grant of ₹10,000, which will not need to be repaid. If a woman wishes to expand her business, she will also receive a loan of up to ₹2 lakh after six months. For this, the government has created a fund of ₹20,000 crore. This scheme, along with the economic empowerment of women, could bring significant benefits to Nitish in the elections.
6 School Cook's Honorarium Doubled
The honorarium for cooks working in schools has been increased from ₹1,600 to ₹3,300. The majority of workers in this sector are women. The increase in honorarium will not only improve their standard of living but could also sway their support towards Nitish.
7 Women's Reservation and Domicile Policy
Nitish Kumar has already implemented 50 percent women's reservation in Panchayats and urban local bodies. Women have also received 35 percent reservation in government jobs. Along with this, the domicile policy has been implemented for teacher recruitment. These decisions have provided women with both employment and self-reliance.
Why Women are at the Center of Nitish's Strategy
In the 2020 Assembly elections, women voted in higher numbers than men. At that time, 60 percent of women voted compared to 54 percent of men. Currently, there are over 3.39 crore women voters in Bihar. Through Jeevika groups and other schemes, women are now playing a decisive role in their families. This is precisely why Nitish Kumar is continuously launching schemes with women at the core.
