PATNA, Aug. 30 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday chaired a special cabinet meeting that approved the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana' (Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme). The initiative, timed right ahead of elections, aims to provide financial assistance to one woman from every family in the state to start self-employment ventures, positioning it as a direct counter to the Opposition INDIA bloc's 'Mai Behan Maan Yojana', which promises a monthly stipend of Rs.2,500 to eligible women. The cabinet's decision, the sole agenda of the meeting, comes amid escalating welfare promises from both sides as Bihar gears up for polls expected later this year. The Opposition alliance, led by figures like Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has also pledged 200 units of free electricity per household, prompting the state government to roll out its own scheme offering 125 units free starting last month. Briefing media persons after the meeting, chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena said that under this scheme, eligible women will receive an initial instalment of Rs.10,000 to kick-start businesses or employment of their choice. "After six months, an assessment will be conducted, potentially providing additional aid of up to Rs.2 lakh based on performance and need. The rural development department (RDD) will oversee the programme, with support from the urban development and housing department (UDHD) as required. Application window for the financial grant will open soon, and fund transfers to bank accounts are slated to begin next month. CM Kumar highlighted the scheme's focus on women's empowerment in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Since forming the government in November 2005, we have undertaken large-scale efforts for women's empowerment. To make women strong and self-reliant, several important steps have been taken. Now, women are not only contributing to Bihar's progress through their hard work but also strengthening their families' economic conditions. Advancing this mission, we have now taken an important and unprecedented decision in the interest of women, which will have positive long-term results." He further emphasised that the scheme's primary goal is to provide financial assistance to one woman from every family in the state for starting businesses of their preference. "I am confident that the implementation of this scheme will not only further strengthen the position of women but also provide better employment opportunities within the state, eliminating the need for people to migrate out of compulsion for jobs," Kumar added. To support the initiative, the government plans to develop 'haat bazaars' (local markets) across rural and urban areas for women to sell their products, fostering local entrepreneurship and reducing migration. Chief secretary Meena, accompanied by development commissioner Pratyaya Amrit and rural development secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, said that detailed guidelines of the scheme would be issued by the rural development department shortly. Political analysts view this as part of a broader pre-election strategy by the Janata Dal (United)-led government to appeal to women voters, a key demographic in Bihar. The INDIA bloc's cash transfer promise, first floated by Tejashwi Yadav in December 2024 and reiterated by the Congress in May 2025, has been a cornerstone of the Opposition's campaign to address economic hardships faced by women from deprived sections. Similarly, the electricity sop war underscores the competitive populism at play, with the Opposition accusing the government of mimicking their ideas. As Bihar's political landscape heats up, such welfare announcements are expected to intensify, with both sides vying to outdo each other in promises aimed at empowerment and economic relief....