Besides the conventional determinants of caste, organisational and leadership, a key variable that may prove to be decisive in the outcome of Bihar Assembly Elections is the ongoing disbursement of ₹10,000 to women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.

The scheme promises ₹2 lakh for every woman to help set up her own business in fields ranging from agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, tailoring to weaving and small sector enterprises. Presently, the initial transfer of ₹10,000 is being made to every woman who, along with her husband, is not an income tax payee or government employee. The government has so far distributed six instalments till November 1 — just days ahead of the first phase of polling on November 6 — to about 1.5 crore women. The seventh instalment is expecte

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