How MMRY Is Transforming Rural Women’s Lives Through JEEViKA in Bihar

he government of Bihar has disbursed ₹10,000 to over one crore women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY), a scheme designed to stimulate entrepreneurship via the state’s JEEViKA network. The program, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeks to drive rural women from being dependent to self-reliant.

MMRY builds on JEEViKA, the rural livelihoods mission in Bihar under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). JEEViKA has long worked with self-help groups (SHGs), helping women gain savings discipline, access training, connect with markets, and build financial resilience. Under MMRY, the ₹10,000 grant is paired with mentoring, skills training, and market linkages to help first-time entrepreneurs succeed.

The scheme covers all 534 blocks in Bihar. Through JEEViKA’s network of SHGs, thousands of women are receiving support. The beneficiary sectors vary: many women are in agriculture, animal husbandry, manufacturing, and service activities. Through MMRY, women are converting sporadic work into more stable income, formalizing businesses, increasing productivity, and gaining access to financial services.

Already, an additional 21 lakh women are in the pipeline to receive funds, pushing expected disbursements above ₹12,000 crore soon. Some 22 lakh more women have applied and will be phased into the scheme. Projections suggest that within a year, MMRY could lead to millions of active nano-enterprises, contribute significantly to household incomes, and spur job creation in ancillary services and supply chains.

The scheme’s governance includes real-time tracking through Management Information Systems (MIS), field mobilisers for every 100 beneficiaries, and oversight by Bihar’s Rural Development Department. The aim is clear: financial inclusion, increased agency for women, and measurable economic impact.