Bihar: Will 2025 Assembly Polls Bring ‘Achhe Din’ For Thousands of Jeevika Didis?

Next month’s Assembly elections seem to have come as good omen for thousands of women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) in Bihar, locally known as Jeevika Didis (Livelihood Sisters) who have been struggling for survival. They mostly belong to poor families.

After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also president of Janata Dal-United, a major ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced cash benefits of Rs 10,000 for 2.77 crore women, mainly Jeevika Didis, and  women associated with their SHGs, comes a bigger announcement by opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav.

On Wednesday, addressing a press conference, Tejashwi promised permanent government employee status to 1.40 crore Jeevika Didis and Rs 30,000 as monthly salary if RJD-led Mahagathbandhan comes to power.
The RJD leader claimed that this was decided on the basis of a scientific study to empower Jeevika Didis.
 

This announcement is being widely seen as a ‘masterstroke’ by Tejashwi to woo Jeevika Didis, who were considered Nitish Kumar’s loyal vote bank during the past three Assembly elections – 2010, 2015 and 2020.

The RJD leader’s move is a part of his strategy to counter Nitish Kumar's cash benefit of Rs 10,000 (the Dus Hazaar scheme) to women, including Jeevika Didis, in the state, announced last month. There are reports of ‘craze’ among women for “dus hazaar” after it was formally launched by Nitish Kumar.

RJD leaders were reportedly worried over the “loud and clear” message coming from the ground that the cash benefit was likely to influence women voters -- Jeevika Didis – in favour of Nitish Kumar.

However, after keeping silent for days, on Wednesday, Tejashwi came up with more attractive sops for Jeevika Didis.
"Jeevika Didiyon ko sthai (permanent) naukri aur 30,000 rupya monthly salary denge agar hum sarkar banaege", said Tejashwi, who is the chief ministerial face of RJD, which is contesting from 143 seats, the largest number of seats by any single party in the polls this time.

"We will waive the interest on loans taken by Jeevika Didis and will provide interest free loan to them", he announced, adding that Jeevika Didis would also be given a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000, which was and “old demand” by them, ignored by the current Nitish Kumar-led government.
The RJD leader claimed that this was a “historical announcement” to empower Jeevika Didis, who have been exploited during the rule of the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar. "It is our responsibility to give them their rights and the respect they deserve", he added.
Tejashwi also reminded the people about his promise to provide a government job to at least one person in every household or family in the state if his party-led Mahagathbandhan wins and forms the government.

This is also being seen as a “bold” announcement to woo youth. Tejashwi Yadav added that within 20 days of forming the government, a new law would be enacted to ensure this employment guarantee. He made it clear that this was part of his commitment, and “not only a promise or a jumla.”

Amid the ongoing election campaign, the RJD leader also promised to work on his MAA-BETI scheme (Makaan, Anna, Aamdani and Benefits, Education and Income) for women of the state.

Taking advantage of being in power, Nitish Kumar formally implemented his announcement last month when he started transfer of cash benefit of Rs 10,000 to the bank accounts of Jeevika Didis, who are associated with SHGs. Till October 3, the government has transferred cash benefits to 1.21 crore Jeevika Didis. The remaining will get the cash benefit in the coming days.

This was the first instalment of Rs 10,000 as financial support via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to women followed by Rs 2 lakh six months later.
 

A political analyst last week told NewsClick that the opposition RJD, Congress and even cadre-based Left parties were worried over Nitish Kumar’s much- hyped cash benefit for women, mainly Jeevika Didis, that appears quite attractive as a pre-poll offer. Never before has such a direct cash incentive of Rs 10,000 been announced for women in Bihar ahead of elections, he said, terming it a potential “game changer.” 

But Tejashwi’s latest announcement is likely to force Jeevika Didis to think and rethink as their old demand to give them status of government employee was neglected by the Nitish-led government in the past over a decade.

With 3.5 crore women voters, half of Bihar’s electorate, women play a decisive role in elections.
Several studies have highlighted the fact that a large number of poor women in Bihar are heavily dependent on microfinance companies, who are exploiting them in the name of loans, in the absence of any other option. Local Hindi dailies have reported that debt-trapped women have been facing intimidation and harassment, including agents threatening to send them jail.

The two-phase Bihar Assembly polls will take place on November 6 and November 11. The polls result will be out on November 14.