There was a time in Bihar when families were reluctant to send their daughters outside their homes due to safety concerns. Many girls were not even allowed to attend school, let alone college. The primary reason behind this was the poor state of law and order. However, with the formation of the Nitish Kumar-led government in 2005, law enforcement was significantly improved, followed by major reforms in the education sector.

To enhance the status of girls’ education, large-scale literacy campaigns were launched, among which the “Bicycle and Uniform Scheme” gained nationwide recognition.

The Bihar government has implemented various schemes to promote awareness about education among women. Among these, the most notable are the “Bicycle and Uniform Scheme.” Under the uniform scheme, financial assistance is provided to female students studying in government schools. Girls in grades one and two receive INR 600 per year, those in grades three to five receive INR 700 per year, students from grades six to eight get INR 1000 per year, and girls studying in grades nine to twelve receive INR 1500 per year. This amount has been increased periodically since the scheme’s inception in 2018. The main objective of this initiative is to encourage girls’ education and make them self-reliant.

Under the Chief Minister’s Bicycle Scheme, all students in the ninth grade with a minimum of 75% attendance receive INR 3000 directly in their bank accounts through DBT. Additionally, the scholarship scheme provides students in grades nine and ten with INR 1800 annually if they maintain 75% attendance. Similarly, students from grades one to four receive INR 600 per year, those in grades five to six receive INR 1200 per year, and students in grades seven and eight receive INR 1800 per year.

To further support adolescent girls, the government has introduced the Chief Minister’s Adolescent Health Scheme, under which girls studying in grades seven to twelve receive INR 300 annually for sanitary napkins. Additionally, the Chief Minister’s Incentive and Merit Scholarship Scheme provides INR 10,000 to students who pass the matriculation examination with first division and INR 8000 to students from SC/ST categories who pass with a second division. For intermediate-level students, SC/ST girls passing with first division receive INR 15,000, while those with a second division receive INR 10,000.

The Chief Minister Kanya Utthan Scheme aims to promote the social and educational development of girls, ensuring that they can continue their education and become self-reliant. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided at various stages of a girl’s life, from birth to higher education. At birth, parents receive INR 2000, followed by INR 1000 at Aadhaar registration, INR 2000 upon completing vaccinations at two years of age, and several more financial aids throughout their education. Girls passing matriculation with first division receive INR 10,000, unmarried girls passing intermediate receive INR 25,000, and graduates receive INR 50,000 as financial assistance.

Apart from these schemes, the Bihar government has launched initiatives like the Chief Minister’s Bihar Darshan Scheme, which provides financial support of INR 20,000 per school to take students on educational tours to historic and significant sites in the state.

To ensure that meritorious students do not have to discontinue their studies due to financial constraints, the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme offers financial assistance of up to INR 4 lakh as an educational loan for students pursuing higher education. Furthermore, Kasturba Gandhi Residential Schools have been established to provide quality education along with lodging facilities for girls in educationally backward areas.

The visionary approach of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has resulted in the successful implementation of several initiatives that have played a crucial role in increasing literacy among girls, particularly in rural areas. The Chief Minister’s Bicycle and Uniform Scheme has not only created awareness about education among girls but has also contributed to making them more self-reliant and empowered.

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