Bihar Cabinet Approves Rural Welfare Initiatives

• 28 Jun 2025

The Bihar Cabinet approved village infrastructure, social pensions, women's entrepreneurship, subsidised meals, and strengthened local governance and welfare measures. 

Key Points:  

• Operationalisation of Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi: The Cabinet has sanctioned the operationalisation of Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi units at block-level offices, as well as at sub-divisional and district headquarters, to provide affordable meals. 
  • The Didi Ki Rasoi initiative will be extended to government medical colleges and hospitals, with subsidised meals priced, under a projected budget of ₹5 crore. 
• Financial Assistance: A committee headed by the Development Commissioner has been formed to set criteria for disbursing ₹2 lakh financial assistance to women entrepreneurs from 94 lakh economically disadvantaged families identified in the recent caste-based survey.  
• Increase in Pensions: The Cabinet has approved an increase in social security pensions under schemes for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and widows, raising the monthly pension from ₹400 to ₹1,100. 
• Expenditure Ceiling for MGNREGA: The expenditure ceiling for gram panchayat-approved works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. 
• Allowances for Panchayati Raj Representatives: Allowances for elected representatives in the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions and members of the Gram Kutchery have been enhanced by 1.5 times. 
  • An ex gratia of ₹5 lakh will be provided to the next of kin in case of the natural death of panchayat or Gram Kutchery members during their term. 
• Marriage Hall Construction: Each marriage hall will be constructed at a cost of ₹50 lakh and implemented in a phased manner over a period of five years, starting from the current financial year. 

Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project 

• JEEViKA: 
  • JEEViKA is the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project aimed at the social and economic empowerment of rural poor in Bihar. 
  • Managed by the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar. 
  • Initially supported by the World Bank and later expanded to include the Livelihoods Restoration component of the Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project (BKFRP). 
  • The National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) has designated BRLPS as the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) for Bihar to implement NRLM's strategies for poverty alleviation.
    
• Didi Ki Rasoi Initiative: 
  • Launched in 2018, inspired by the Kerala Kudumbashree model, with the goal to provide affordable meals in Bihar. 
  • Supported by the World Bank under the Bihar Transformative Development Project and implemented by BRLPS (JEEViKA). 
  • The first center was set up in Vaishali, and now there are 83+ centers operating across 38 districts in Bihar, including in hospitals, medical colleges, and schools. 
  • The initiative has employed 1,200+ women entrepreneurs and 150 full-time staff, supported by hotel management and catering experts. 
  • Women entrepreneurs are trained in cleanliness, accounting, and customer service through a 7-day training program provided by JEEViKA.