Patna, Aug 27: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday announced the establishment of a women’s university in the state and set a target of providing employment to one crore women and turning an equal number into ‘Lakhpati Didis’ through livelihood initiatives.
The announcements were made at Bapu Sabhagar here during the launch of the “Prosperous Women-Prosperous Bihar” campaign ahead of Raksha Bandhan.
Choudhary said the proposed women’s university would have women occupying all positions, from the vice-chancellor and professors to staff and students.
“Happy Rakshabandhan to the sisters. A ‘Women’s University’ will be established for the sisters of Bihar, where our daughters will receive higher education and in the Women’s University, only women will hold all positions, from professor to Vice-Chancellor,” he said.
“This university will give a new horizon to the dreams of the daughters of Bihar, where leadership will be promoted with education, confidence with skill and self-reliance with knowledge,” the chief minister added.
As part of the initiatives for women, the state government also announced plans to install solar panels at the homes of 10 lakh Jeevika Didis by March 31 under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana.
“On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the gift of PM Surya Ghar to the Jeevika Didis of Bihar,” Choudhary said.
He said the solar initiative would help reduce electricity expenditure for beneficiary families while creating additional income opportunities and promoting energy self-reliance.
The chief minister said the government aimed to provide employment to one crore women and make one crore women Lakhpati Didis, with livelihood opportunities being expanded in animal husbandry, manufacturing and the service sector.
In another major announcement, Choudhary said Rs 600 crore had been transferred through direct benefit transfer to the accounts of five lakh women beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme.
Loans were also provided to 10,000 beneficiaries through Jeevika Nidhi, while construction work on 112 rural haats was launched to strengthen market and livelihood opportunities for women.
Choudhary also congratulated 7,376 women selected for government nursing jobs.
Describing women’s empowerment as the foundation of a prosperous Bihar, the chief minister said the government’s priority was to make women self-reliant, independent and economically strong.
“Women’s empowerment is the strong foundation of a prosperous Bihar. Our priority is to realise the resolve of a developed India and a prosperous Bihar by making the women of Bihar self-reliant, independent, and economically strong,” he said.
