Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited in Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen rural women’s entrepreneurship and self-reliance in the poll-bound state. As part of the launch, ₹105 crore was directly transferred into the institution’s bank account.

About the Initiative:

·         The Jeevika Nidhi will serve as a cooperative society for rural women associated with Jeevika self-help groups (SHGs).

·         All registered cluster-level federations under Jeevika will be members.

·         The central and Bihar governments will jointly contribute funds for its operations.

·         The system will function entirely online, enabling transparent and speedy fund transfers directly into beneficiaries’ accounts.

·         To support implementation, 12,000 community cadres will be equipped with tablets to assist with digital and financial literacy.

Objective:

·         Provide easy access to institutional credit for women entrepreneurs.

·         Empower women-led self-help groups to expand micro-enterprises.

·         Promote financial independence and reduce reliance on informal credit.

·         Integrate digital tools into rural development processes.

Rural Women in the Labour Market (PLFS June 2025 Data):

·         Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): 35.2% of rural women (15+ years) were in the labour force, marking a decline compared to May 2025.

·         Worker Population Ratio (WPR): 33.6% of rural women were actually working, reflecting seasonal shifts and a fall in unpaid agricultural labour.

·         Shift in Roles: Many women from higher-income rural households moved from unpaid agricultural work to domestic duties. The female share in agriculture dipped slightly from 70.2% (May) to 69.8% (June).

·         Rise in Own-Account Work: Despite the decline in overall participation, more women turned to self-initiated small-scale activities such as petty trade, repair work, or services—indicating growth in grassroots entrepreneurship.

Implication: While formal participation fell, rural women are increasingly engaging in entrepreneurial activities as a buffer during agricultural or seasonal downturns.

Significance of Jeevika Nidhi:

·         Provides formal credit support at a time when women are shifting toward self-employment and micro-businesses.

·         Strengthens the Jeevika programme’s impact on mobilizing rural women into SHGs.

·         Encourages women-led development, a key theme in India’s policy agenda.

·         Enhances transparency and digital integration in welfare delivery.

·         Supports inclusive growth by linking women’s entrepreneurship with institutional support.

Wider Implications

·         The model could serve as a replicable framework for other states.

·         Strengthens rural household economies by building women’s financial independence.

·         Complements national schemes such as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM and Digital India.

Conclusion

The Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi represents a major step toward institutionalizing financial access for rural women entrepreneurs. Coupled with recent PLFS trends showing a rise in self-directed economic activities among rural women, the initiative reinforces entrepreneurship as both an opportunity and a safety net. It reflects India’s larger vision of empowering women as drivers of inclusive and resilient rural growth.