The Bihar government has announced financial assistance of ₹10,000 for women under the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme, with the aim of encouraging them to start small businesses and eventually providing loans of up to ₹2 lakh. However, in Kajha village of Purnia district, many women fear that this government aid may never reach them, as loan scams and pressure from recovery agents have already left them vulnerable.

In a conversation with TV9 Bharatvarsh, Kausalya Devi revealed that her government documents had been misused by the local ward member to secure a loan from a microfinance company in her name. She alleged that she never received any money, yet recovery agents are now harassing her for repayment.

A similar case surfaced with Jitendra Kumar, who is physically disabled and unable to work. He shared that a loan of nearly ₹90,000 was taken in his wife Anjali Devi’s name, again facilitated by the ward member, but not a single rupee was given to them. Instead, recovery agents continue to threaten the family.

This ordeal is not limited to just a few families. Around 83 women in Kajha village have been trapped in this fraud. Their ward member, Nandan Rishi, allegedly siphoned off the funds from these government-backed loans and has been missing since April 16. The women now fear that the fresh amount of ₹10,000 promised under Nitish Kumar’s scheme will be forcibly used to pay off debts they never incurred.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally launched the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme, which will transfer ₹10,000 directly into the bank accounts of 7.5 million women in Bihar. The scheme is targeted at women linked to Jeevika Self-Help Groups (SHGs) whose annual family income is less than ₹5 lakh. While the government calls this a step toward women’s empowerment, in villages like Kajha, mistrust and fear overshadow the promise of financial independence.