Patna: The Bihar government has decided to set up women-centric Self-Help Groups (SHGS) on the lines of an NGO, Jeevika, to cater to welfare and livelihood of women, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday.
The SHGs will become functional in all blocks of Bihar within 4-5 years, he said while inaugurating a two-day seminar on `Achieving Convergence for Empower of Women`.
He said a number of NGOs and SHGs have been working in the state for years and the result of their works were there to be seen as far as awareness and literacy among women were concerned, particularly in rural areas.
He said he had himself observed in 2006 the works being done by the SHGs among the women for their education and overall empowerment, besides eradication of social vices like child marriage and discrimination against girls. Some SHGs had even succeeded in restoration of the properties of poor people which were seized by local thugs by carrying out a concerted campaign for unity of the poor people, particularly women, the chief minister said.

There were other instances of work being done by the SHGs to enable the poor and semi-literate women to earn livelihood, including running PDS retailership, he said.

Observing that the education and empowerment of the women were necessary for development, Kumar said his government has provided 50 per cent reservation for women in the panchayati raj institutions and launched schemes like bicycle, dress, scholarship for girl students.
These schemes have emboldened the spirit of the girl students who have been competing with the boys for academic excellence and jobs, he said.
PTI