Two states launch women-led rural service schemes

Two state-level initiatives are enabling rural women to deliver essential services in their villages while earning incomes. In Bihar, the Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation has launched ‘Sudha Sakhis’ to provide basic veterinary first aid, artificial insemination and scientific dairy farming guidance to livestock owners across all 8,053 panchayats by 2027. Women from all 38 districts underwent a six-day residential training programme from 31 August to 5 September. They will work as commission-based local service providers, not government employees, under the state’s Sahkar Se Samriddhi programme.

Separately, in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, women working as ‘Bank Correspondent Sakhis’ under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission are delivering banking services such as cash deposits and withdrawals from panchayat buildings and through home visits for elderly or disabled residents. Participants like Jyoti Vishwakarma and Nasreen Bano report increased financial independence, community recognition and the ability to pay children’s school fees. The programmes aim to expand women’s economic participation in the dairy and banking sectors respectively.