How is JEEVIKA Becoming a Lifeline for Women in Bihar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- JEEVIKA is crucial for empowering women in Bihar.
- It provides financial support and training for entrepreneurship.
- Many women have transformed their lives through the initiative.
- The program targets women from marginalized communities.
- It aims to improve social indices and livelihoods.
Sheikhpura, June 30 (NationPress) The JEEVIKA initiative is proving to be a vital lifeline for women in Bihar, enabling them to access financial aid from this government-supported program and launch their own businesses.
Babita Devi, who hails from the Devpuri area in Sheikhpura district, shared her inspiring journey with IANS, highlighting how the JEEVIKA scheme has transformed her life.
She is among countless women who have found new purpose through this initiative. The program offers women job opportunities, training, and financial aid, fostering significant improvements in their households and communities.
Babita shared that her life was filled with challenges before joining JEEVIKA, but everything changed once she became part of this groundbreaking initiative.
The nodal officer for JEEVIKA's Sustainable Livelihood Scheme mentioned that the government is focusing on assisting women from extremely impoverished backgrounds, including those from scheduled castes and tribal communities, who traditionally engage in the production and sale of country liquor and toddy.
Ruby Devi, another participant in the scheme, revealed that she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey after receiving ₹10,000 in support. She recalled how her financial struggles made it difficult for her family to afford three meals a day.
“Laborers earn only ₹300, and we had to cover all our expenses with that,” she reflected on her past difficulties.
“Seeing other women succeed in the scheme motivated me. I took out a loan and established a cart in the Sheikhpura market, and now my situation is significantly improved,” she told IANS.
JEEVIKA, which is locally known as the World Bank-supported Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP), aims to empower the rural poor and enhance their social standing. It is managed by the Government of Bihar (GoB) through the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), an independent entity under the Department of Rural Development.