Baliram Sahni of Darbhanga’s Jale block shows a notice sent by the government asking him to refund the money. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Days after the Bihar government sent notices to several male residents of Jale block in Darbhanga to refund ₹10,000 wrongly credited to their accounts under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, some of them claimed that the amount had already been spent, while others insisted that the government should first return their votes if it wants the money back.
Ahead of the Assembly elections in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the program – aimed at empowering women by providing financial assistance to start their own businesses – through video conferencing from Delhi. Transferred ₹7,500 crore into the accounts of 75 crore 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 more than 1.56 crore women. The state government has assured the women entrepreneurs that they will be given an additional grant of ₹200 after their performance is evaluated.
Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development, better known as JEEViKA, had sent notices to male beneficiaries asking them to return the amount after the mistake came to light.
On 13 December, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal shared a screenshot of the notification on X, claiming that instead of transferring ₹10,000 to the women, the state government sent the money to the accounts of several men.
The party cited male beneficiaries to support its claim that the NDA had announced cash transfers in the run-up to the elections to “buy votes”.
Probe ordered
State Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the matter and directed the officials to submit a detailed report at the earliest.
In Bakhri village, under the Ahiyari panchayat, several male beneficiaries claimed to have spent the money on Chhath Puja and Deepavali celebrations. “The amount was transferred during the festive season. Part was spent on Chhath Puja. I also used it to buy ducks and clothes for my family members. How can the government expect us to return the money? We are poor people and we are trying to meet our daily needs,” recipient Baliram Sahni told The Hindu over phone.
Mr. Sahni said he supports his wife and five children by collecting garbage and working as a bricklayer. His wife Sunaina Devi did not get any benefits from the scheme, he added. “I voted for Jibesh Kumar (BJP MLA from Jale) thinking the money was an election gift. If the government wants the money back, it should return our votes first.”
Ram Sagar Kumar, another beneficiary, asked why the government is acting now. “Amit Shahji (Union Home Minister) has repeatedly said in every rally that the money given under the scheme will not be taken back. If there was any wrongdoing, why didn’t the government send a notice earlier? Why wait for the elections to be over?” he said.
Some male beneficiaries who were served with the notice claimed they had not applied for the scheme and believed the money had been transferred as a disability pension. “I voted for Nitish Kumarji on the assumption that the money was given for personal use. It was transferred to my bank account even though I did not apply for the scheme. I cannot work as I am physically demanding. Otherwise I would have found a job and returned the money. I spent it on daily needs,” said another beneficiary Nagendra Ram.
Published – 18 Dec 2025 01:01 IST
