The Jharkhand government plans to introduce a monthly direct cash transfer of ₹1,000 to around four million women in the state, similar to West Bengal’s ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme, starting from July-August this year. This announcement was made after Chief Minister Champai Soren directed officials to design and launch a cash incentive program for women aged 25 to 50 years. He also instructed the creation of a dedicated portal for the scheme, named the ‘Mukhamantri Bahan Beti Swabalamban Yojna’ (MBBSY).

“We aim to empower women and enhance their financial independence. Hence, we will provide monthly cash assistance to women aged 25-50 years in the state. I have urged officials to implement this scheme promptly, and it will be operational by next month,” Soren said following a review meeting of the women, child development, and social welfare department in Ranchi.

The scheme is estimated to benefit about four million women and cost the state government an additional ₹4,000-₹5,000 crore annually. Political analysts believe this initiative is inspired by Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme, which was electorally beneficial for the Trinamool Congress, and see it as a strategy by Soren to appeal to women voters ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections in four months.