Overview

• The Mai Bahan Maan Yojana promises Rs 2,500 monthly direct transfers to underprivileged women in Bihar if the Mahagathbandhan forms the next government.
• Congress leaders Alka Lamba and Rajesh Ram announced the scheme’s rollout plan, including a missed-call registration system and guarantee forms for beneficiary enrollment.
• The initiative builds on similar welfare programs implemented in Congress-led or allied states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
• Originally introduced by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in December 2024, the scheme has been fully endorsed as a collective commitment by the Mahagathbandhan.
• Critics question the fiscal sustainability and timing of the scheme, as it coincides with intensified campaigning ahead of the state elections.