Patna: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani said on Tuesday that the NDA government in Bihar had lifted women out of “the shadow of helplessness and fear,” crediting its welfare schemes for transforming lives across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Irani highlighted the scale of women-centric initiatives implemented under the NDA government. “The Jan Dhan Yojana has benefitted more than three crore women in Bihar, and 1.16 crore women have received benefits under the Ujjwala Yojana. We have also seen the fulfilment of the promise of toilets in each household,” she said.
She expressed disappointment over what she described as the opposition’s attempts to obstruct welfare delivery. “For me, it’s a matter of pain that on one hand, the NDA government is directly transferring money into the accounts of women beneficiaries in Bihar, while on the other, RJD leaders have given a written proposal to the Election Commission to stall the benefits,” Irani remarked.
Her comments came after RJD MP Manoj Jha wrote to the Election Commission on 31 October, alleging that the Bihar government had violated the Model Code of Conduct by transferring funds to women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana on 17, 24 and 31 October.
The dispute has emerged in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled to take place in two phases on 6 and 11 November. Counting of votes is set for 14 November.
Irani said the NDA’s welfare programmes reflected a broader vision of social and economic inclusion. She emphasised that financial empowerment and access to clean energy, sanitation, and employment were helping women move from dependency to self-reliance.
The press conference underscored the BJP’s focus on women’s welfare as a central theme of its campaign, positioning the NDA government’s record as evidence of progress achieved through direct benefit schemes and social reforms.
