Women's safety to play decisive role in Bihar election

As the Bihar is all set to undergo assembly polls later this year, several parties are gearing up to secure majority. However, psephologists believe that women's safety might turn out to be a focal point of the election.

Patna: Women's safety in Bihar is expected to play a decisive role in the state assembly polls scheduled this year, a psephologist said.

In Bihar women voters play an important role in forming the government. All parties are trying their best to woo the women voters. The ruling party in Bihar has done a lot of work to empower women which is why some psephologist believe that Nitish Kumar might come to power once again.

On 26 November 2015, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that alcohol would be banned in the state from 1 April 2016. Over the years, women across the state have benefited from this move as domestic violence cases have reduced to a great extent, in fact women are feeling more safe outside, a source said.

During the last 15 years, the Nitish government has taken many concrete steps for women's empowerment. CM Nitish Kumar created a human chain to eradicate the evil of dowry, while at the same time he also launched several schemes for women.

Apart from educational incentives, Kanya Vivah Yojana, separate policies were made and additional reservation for women were given. To strengthen women socially, Chief Minister Kanya Utthan Yojana for women was also initiated.

Moreover, under Bihar student credit card scheme education, loan was given to women for higher education at a simple interest rate of one per cent.

A helpline number was issued for any kind of social, psychological, medical and legal advice to women battling domestic violence. 50 percent reservation was provided to women in panchayati raj institutions and municipal bodies.

35 per cent of seats in all government jobs of the state was reserved under the Right to Reservation Employment Right to Women. 10 lakh self-help groups were formed through livelihood under the poverty alleviation program. Assistance up to Rs 1 lakh was given as incentive amount for inter-caste marriage promotion. Further, Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana was implemented for the holistic development of girls and adolescent girls.

"During the last 15 years a lot of work has been done in the direction of women empowerment. However, much more needs to be done to genuinely empower women in Bihar," DM Diwakar, a professor in one of the colleges of Bihar said.