Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Friday hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav for criticising the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, accusing him of being “anti-women and anti-development.”
The attack came after Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the NDA-led Bihar government was a “copycat” and claimed the Rs 10,000 assistance provided under the scheme was essentially a recoverable loan.
Defending the initiative, Rai described the direct transfer of Rs 10,000 into women’s bank accounts as a “historic moment” for Bihar. “It is a historic step by PM Modi to deposit an amount of Rs 10,000 directly into the accounts of women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Bihar is the first state to provide women opportunities for self-employment,” he said, adding that Tejashwi Yadav’s “rubbish statement” exposed his disregard for women’s empowerment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently launched the scheme, urged beneficiaries to inspire others by sharing their experiences. Beneficiaries, including women like Noorjahan Khatun and Geetanjali Devi, praised the financial support, saying it had given them a new sense of independence and opportunities for self-employment.
One beneficiary in Patna said, “We never thought this could happen here, but now we are getting a chance to work and support our families. We thank PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar.”
The scheme, launched earlier this month, has already transferred Rs 7,500 crore into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women across Bihar. While the first instalment of Rs 10,000 is being credited through Direct Benefit Transfer, beneficiaries may receive up to Rs 2 lakh in additional support in future phases.
