It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman in Bihar, in possession of her vote, must be courted with the utmost care — especially when elections are near. Both the ruling coalition NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan have recognized this fact with admirable zeal, offering pensions, bank transfers, honoraria, and schemes.
The NDA’s pre-poll push has leaned heavily on the DBT model, taking cues from other states to ensure direct, timely transfers. From the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which deposited Rs 10,000 each into the accounts of 75 lakh women, to nearly tripling pensions for widows, the elderly, and the disabled, the government has sought to combine social welfare with political messaging.
The Mahagathbandhan, meanwhile, has countered with its own promises, including Rs 2,500 per month for women under the “Mai Behan Maan” scheme and 200 units of free electricity for households. While the NDA’s measures have already begun reaching beneficiaries, the opposition pledges are positioned as corrective steps to perceived gaps in the current administration’s welfare framework.
Against this backdrop, the question arises: will these schemes genuinely sway women voters, or will they be seen as another round of political maneuvering in the lead-up to the elections?
NDA's pitchDBT push
Taking lessons from Maharashtra’s “Ladki Bahin Yojana” and Haryana’s “Lado Laxmi Yojana”, Bihar followed the DBT playbook to woo women voters.
Just months ahead of assembly elections, Nitish Kumar-led government rolled "Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana". With Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing the button from Delhi, Rs 10,000 each went straight into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women across Bihar.
The Rs 7,500-crore scheme was pitched as a push for women’s empowerment through self-employment and livelihood generation, though its timing carried a clear political pulse.
Nearly 3X hike in pension for widows
Taking the social security route, Nitish Kumar nearly tripled pensions for widows, the elderly, and the disabled. Monthly allowances rose from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, benefiting over 1.9 crore people.
The enhanced amounts were credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts by the 10th of each month.
Asha pay tripled
Asha workers saw their honorarium jump from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, while Mamta workers’ incentives doubled to Rs 600 per delivery. The government framed it as recognition for their key role in boosting rural healthcare, but the timing ahead of assembly elections gave it an unmistakable political undertone.
The move is expected to have benefited 95,000 Asha workers and 4,600 Mamta workers.
Rural entreprenaari boost
In yet another women-centric push ahead of elections, Prime Minister Modi launched the “Jeevika Nidhi” financial scheme for rural women entrepreneurs in Bihar. The initiative aimed to ease access to credit for women associated with the state’s
Jeevika self-help groups. As part of the launch, Rs 105 crore was transferred to the institution’s account, with PM Modi calling the move an “auspicious start” and crediting women’s empowerment as a key pillar of India’s development.
Under the scheme, all cluster-level federations under
Jeevika became members of a new cooperative society jointly funded by the Centre and the state. The system functioned entirely online to ensure faster, more transparent transfers directly into women’s bank accounts.
Mahagathbandhan's promisesRs 2,500 per month
The Mahagathbandhan promised that women from deprived sections in Bihar would receive Rs 2,500 per month under the “Mai Behan Maan” scheme if the alliance formed the next government. The proposed initiative aimed to provide direct financial support to women and ensure timely transfers through streamlined registration.
The alliance also pledged to strengthen social security for women, presenting the scheme as a step toward both economic empowerment and political inclusion, contrasting it with the current administration’s lower and irregular payouts.
200 units free electricity
The Mahagathbandhan promised to provide 200 units of free electricity to consumers if it forms the next government in Bihar. The initiative was presented as a measure to ease household expenses and attract voter support ahead of the assembly elections.
However, months later, the Bihar government announced free electricity for up to 125 units for domestic consumers.
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