NEW DELHI: Informed official sources have said that the Bihar government’s recent transfer of Rs 10,000 each to women beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana does not amount to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The clarification comes amid a political row over the disbursal of funds on October 17, 24, and 31 following allegations by RJD MP Manoj Jha and several other opposition leaders that the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government had violated the MCC by making direct cash transfers to women after the election schedule was announced.
Officials familiar with the matter said that the MCC restricts governments from announcing or implementing newschemes, projects, or financial grants once the election process begins, but it does not bar the continuation of programmes that were already approved and operational before the enforcement of the Code.
“The Model Code applies to new announcements made after the election schedule is declared. Schemes approved and launched earlier are not treated as violations unless there is evidence of fresh sanction, expansion, or selective implementation after the Code comes into effect,” an official explained. He added that the political parties and their leaders are very much aware of these nuances, yet the RJD and others have flagged it to score political points.
According to records, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana was approved by the Bihar cabinet on August 29, 2025, and formally launched on September 26, well before the MCC came into force on October 6, when the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Bihar Assembly election schedule.
Under the scheme, each eligible woman is entitled to a one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 to start small-scale employment or income-generating activity. The government has also promised to provide additional financial aid of up to Rs 2 lakh to those who successfully establish their ventures after six months.
The state government has said the payments made in October were part of the regular implementation schedule and that the process had been set in motion weeks before the poll announcement. However, opposition leaders have argued that the decision to release funds during the MCC period undermines the spirit of electoral neutrality. According to another official, it would only qualify as a breach if there were changes in the scheme’s scope, eligibility, or funding pattern after the MCC was imposed.
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. It prohibits the announcement of new projects, financial grants, or promises that could influence voters once the election schedule is declared. However, administrative actions or welfare measures already approved and implemented before the Code’s enforcement are generally exempted.
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana was one of the key welfare measures announced by the Bihar government in the run-up to the polls, aimed at supporting women’s self-employment and entrepreneurship. The first batch of beneficiaries received their payments in late September during the official launch event, which was held days before the MCC took effect.
Polling in Bihar will take place in two phases—November 6 and November 11—and the counting of votes will be held on November 14.
