Return votes first: male beneficiaries of Bihar scheme for women

Days after the Bihar government sent notices to a few male residents of Darbhanga’s Jale block seeking the return of ₹10,000 wrongly credited to their accounts under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, some of them have claimed that the amount has been already spent, while others insist that the government should first return their votes if it wants the money back.

In the run-up to the Assembly election in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the scheme – aimed at empowering women by providing financial assistance to start their own business – through videoconferencing from Delhi. He transferred ₹7,500 crore into the accounts of 75 lakh women across the State. The scheme was credited as a game changer for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as it won 202 seats out of 243 in the election.

So far, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government has transferred ₹10,000 to over 1.56 crore women. The State government has assured women entrepreneurs that after evaluating their performance, an additional ₹2 lakh as grant will be given to them.

The Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development better known as JEEViKA, had sent the notices to the male recipients asking them to return the amount after the mistake came to light.

On December 13, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal shared a screenshot of the notice on X and claimed that instead of transferring ₹10,000 to women, the State government sent money to the accounts of several men.

The party cited the male beneficiaries to buttress its allegation that the NDA had announced the cash transfer in the run-up to the election to “buy votes”.

Probe ordered

State Rural Development Department Minister Shravan Kumar on Wednesday ordered a probe into the matter and directed officials to submit a detailed report as soon as possible.

In Bakhri village, under Ahiyari panchayat, several male beneficiaries claimed that they spent the money on Chhath Puja and Deepavali celebrations. “The amount was transferred during the festive season. Some of it was spent on Chhath Puja festivities. I also used it to purchase ducks and some clothes for my family members. How can the government expect us to return the money? We are poor people and struggle to meet our daily needs,” Baliram Sahni, a beneficiary, told The Hindu over the phone.

Mr. Sahni said he provides for his wife and five children by collecting waste and working as a mason. His wife Sunaina Devi did not receive any benefits from the scheme, he added. “I voted for Jibesh Kumar [BJP MLA from Jale] thinking that the money was a pre-election gift. If the government wants the money back, then it should return our votes first.”

Ram Sagar Kumar, another beneficiary, asked why the government was taking action now. “Amit Shahji [Union Home Minister] repeatedly said at every rally that the money given under the scheme will not be taken back. If there was any mistake at all, why didn’t the government send the notice earlier? Why wait till the election got over?” he said.

Some male beneficiaries who were served the notice claimed that they had not applied for the scheme and thought that the money was transferred as pension for the disabled. “I voted for Nitish Kumarji assuming that the money was given for personal use. It was transferred to my bank account though I had not applied for the scheme. I cannot work as I am physically challenged. Else, I would have found work and returned the money. I spent it on daily needs,” Nagendra Ram, another beneficiary, said.