logo
#

Latest news with #DidiKiRasoi

Bihar panchayat members to get arms licences as Cabinet okays key proposals
Bihar panchayat members to get arms licences as Cabinet okays key proposals

India Today

time25-06-2025

  • Politics
  • India Today

Bihar panchayat members to get arms licences as Cabinet okays key proposals

The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Cabinet has decided to grant arms licences to elected representatives of the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions following a string of attacks on local leaders ahead of assembly polls. It was among a host of decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting on government has instructed all district magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) across Bihar to begin the process of issuing licences to the panchayat the government said that applications for arms licences must be verified promptly and disposed of as per the law. The move comes amid a string of political murders in Bihar. Last week, a panchayat head and his aide were shot dead in Bihar's February, a JD(U) leader, Mahesh Mishra, was shot dead by armed assailants near his residence in Bihar's Gaya district. Mishra was the block secretary of JD(U) and deputy 'mukhiya' of the Chiraila year, too, the head of a panchayat in Bihar's Samastipur district was shot to NCRB data, Bihar ranks only second behind Uttar Pradesh in deaths due to bullet injuries. Ahead of the elections, likely in November, Bihar police have sprung into action, scanning arms licences, and cracking down on illegal arms manufacturing CABINET DECISIONSAmong other key decisions taken by the Cabinet include the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana'. The scheme entails the construction of marriage halls in every panchayat across the Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 4,026.50 crore for the scheme, which will be implemented and operated through 'Jeevika Didis' - women's self-help groups."Our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the weddings of daughters of poor families in rural areas. Economically weak families will benefit greatly from this initiative," Nitish Kumar the government's community kitchen initiative, 'Didi Ki Rasoi', has also been revised, with the cost of subsidised meals reduced to Rs 20 from Rs 40 per government also said that the subsidised meals would now also be provided beyond hospitals and colleges to block, and zonal offices as well.- EndsTune InMust Watch

Bihar cabinet approves ₹4,026 crore marriage hall scheme in all gram panchayats
Bihar cabinet approves ₹4,026 crore marriage hall scheme in all gram panchayats

The Hindu

time24-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Hindu

Bihar cabinet approves ₹4,026 crore marriage hall scheme in all gram panchayats

The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) approved the construction of marriage halls under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana across all 8,053 gram panchayats of the State, with an estimated outlay of ₹4,026 crore. 'The marriage hall will be constructed by gram panchayats at a cost of ₹50 lakh each. It will be executed in a phased manner over a period of five years beginning this financial year,' Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said at a post-cabinet media briefing in Patna. The halls are intended to facilitate social and cultural events in rural areas, thereby supporting community cohesion and financial self-sufficiency at the village level. 'It will be run and maintained by village-level organisations,' Mr. Meena said. In another key decision, the cabinet approved the Rural Development Department's proposal to operationalise Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi units at block-level offices, as well as at sub-divisional and district headquarters. 'Visitors from remote areas will be able to access affordable meals, and the initiative will provide livelihood opportunities for women associated with the Jeevika scheme,' Mr. Meena added. The Health Department's proposal to launch Didi Ki Rasoi at government medical colleges and hospitals was also approved. The meals will be made available at a subsidised rate of ₹20 per plate, Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit said. The scheme will be rolled out in a phased manner starting July 1, at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. The cabinet further cleared a proposal to form a committee under Mr. Amrit's chairmanship to devise criteria for the disbursement of ₹2 lakh to women entrepreneurs from among the 94 lakh families identified as poor in the caste-based survey. Bihar has a total of 2.76 crore families. The State also announced an increase in social security pensions under schemes for old age, disability, and widow beneficiaries. As per the decision, the monthly pension amount will be raised from ₹400 to ₹1,100, benefitting around 1.11 crore people. 'This would put an additional burden of ₹9,202 crore on the State exchequer,' Mr. Meena said. In another administrative reform, the cabinet doubled the expenditure limit that gram panchayats can approve under MGNREGA from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. The State Government also approved a 1.5-fold increase in allowances for elected representatives in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and members of the Gram Kutchery. In a welfare measure, the cabinet sanctioned ₹5 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of panchayat and Gram Kutchery members in case of normal death during their tenure. The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, cleared a total of 46 proposals during the meeting.

Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women
Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women

Hindustan Times

time24-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Hindustan Times

Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women

Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said his government has decided to construct marriage halls in all panchayat areas in the state to facilitate the wedding of poor women. Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar govt decides to set up halls in panchayats for wedding of poor women The state Cabibent took the decision at a meeting, chaired by Kumar, ahead of the assembly polls due later this year. 'I am delighted to inform you that our government will construct marriage halls in all panchayats to facilitate the marriage ceremonies of daughters from poor families in the rural areas of the state," the CM said in a post on X. The programme was named 'Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Mandap Scheme'. "These marriage halls will be operated by JEEViKA Didis. The construction of marriage halls at the panchayat level will greatly benefit economically weaker families,' said the CM. JEEViKA Didis are women associated with self-help groups under the World Bank-aided Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project. Aimed at social and economic empowerment of the rural poor, the project is also known as JEEViKA. The Cabinet also reduced the prices of meals provided at 'Didi Ki Rasoi' canteens, supported by Jeevika, at all government medical colleges and hospitals as well as various government institutions across the state from ₹ 40 to ₹ 20 per plate, Kumar said. The state government will compensate ₹ 20 per plate, he wrote. 'The government is committed to providing essential high-quality facilities in all health institutions across the state. We have also decided to implement this arrangement in all district collectorates, sub-divisional offices, block, and circle offices in the state. Instructions have been issued to officials to ensure that people coming from remote rural areas can access pure food at affordable rates,' Kumar said. Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal of the Social Welfare Department to increase pension of senior citizens, widows and people with disability by ₹ 700 per month. The beneficiaries will get enhanced pensions of ₹ 1,100 from July. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

How ‘Didi Ki Rasoi' is turning rural Bihar women into local food entrepreneurs
How ‘Didi Ki Rasoi' is turning rural Bihar women into local food entrepreneurs

India Today

time09-06-2025

  • Business
  • India Today

How ‘Didi Ki Rasoi' is turning rural Bihar women into local food entrepreneurs

If you ever walk into a district collectorate or block office in Bihar, chances are you'll spot a 'Didi Ki Rasoi', a clean, lively canteen run entirely by rural women. But these kitchens are more than just places to grab a bite. They're transforming how thousands of homemakers earn a in 2012 as part of the Bihar State Rural Livelihoods Mission, these kitchens are powered by women from self-help groups called Sakhi around 800 such canteens operate across the state, serving meals daily to government staff, workers, and even visitors. The state government has been supporting these kitchens by offering one-time help, Rs 1.5 lakh for setting up and Rs 1 lakh for upgrades. But it's the didis (as the women are called) who handle the daily cook, serve, manage accounts, and even deal with customers directly. Some earn anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 a for example the canteen at Khagaria Collectorate. Run by four women, including Rajkumari Devi, it serves over 200 plates a Didi Ki Rasoi typically offers rice, dal, sabzi, roti and pickles at pocket-friendly prices, Rs 30 for a thali. Hygiene, taste, and low cost are their winning importantly, the initiative is reshaping lives. Many of these women had never stepped out to work before. Now they're earning, making decisions, and gaining confidence.

Didi Ki Rasoi: How Bihar turned thousands of rural homemakers into independent food entrepreneurs
Didi Ki Rasoi: How Bihar turned thousands of rural homemakers into independent food entrepreneurs

Indian Express

time09-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Indian Express

Didi Ki Rasoi: How Bihar turned thousands of rural homemakers into independent food entrepreneurs

For Parvati Devi (30), cooking is more than a daily chore, it's a source of dignity, independence and social recognition. 'Earlier, I used to cook for my family at home. Now, I earn from my cooking,' she says. 'Senior police officers eat my food, some even recognise me. They call me Didi.' She is one of the 12 'Didis' working in a canteen at Patel Bhawan, the Bihar Police headquarters, in Patna. The canteen is part of the Didi Ki Rasoi initiative launched in 2018 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar under Bihar's women empowerment programme, JEEViKA. Today, there are over 225 Didi Ki Rasoi kitchens operating across Bihar in government hospitals, schools, and public offices. More than 4,000 women, referred to as 'Didis', are employed in these kitchens and earn between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 a month. Most of the women were homemakers, and the initiative seeks to leverage their cooking skills and turn them into skilled entrepreneurs making steady incomes. As lunchtime approaches, the clanging of cutlery and the chattering of customers create a buzz in the canteen at the state police headquarters. Police personnel and other employees at the building gather around an L-shaped black granite counter, waiting for their turn. Behind the counter are a couple of women in brown aprons and white-brown salwar suits, their hair tucked neatly under hairnets. 'What's in today's menu, Didi?' asks a man. 'Veg thali, special thali with paneer, and non-veg. What would you like?' one of them replies briskly. Another officer chimes in, 'Didi, take my order too!' Nearby, one of the women call out, 'Who ordered a tea?' Ramesh Kumar, a police officer posted at the CID DIG office, says, 'I often take my meals here. The quality is better than the earlier canteen. It's quite affordable, and the food here is just like home.' The Didi Ki Rasoi at Patel Bhawan was inaugurated on October 3, 2023. The canteen's tall ceilings, glass windows, and walls adorned with pictures create an atmosphere more akin to a modern cafeteria than a traditional kitchen. Every working day, the Didis arrive by 8.30 am. Their day begins with chopping vegetables, prepping ingredients, and cleaning the premises and utensils. 'The breakfast can be poha, puri-sabzi, idli and paratha. Lunch includes vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and special thalis. In the evening, we serve snacks like pakora and Chinese dishes,' says Sandhya Kumari, the community coordinator overseeing this unit. According to her, the ever-expanding menu currently consists of 68 items — from restaurant staples to street food classics. 'We have South Indian items like dosa, Chinese food items, like noodles, and regional favourites like litti-chokha and ghughni-chura,' she says, adding, 'We also have home staples like curd, lassi, sooji ka halwa — all made in-house. Nothing we serve comes pre-packaged. We keep introducing new items based on popular demand.' The pricing, she says, is affordable, with 'a basic veg thali costing Rs 60, a paneer thali Rs 80, and the mutton thali, the priciest item, at Rs 150'. She says that each day, the canteen serves around 250 officers and staff members. 'Some higher officials also order food to their offices.' Parvati Devi had joined JEEViKA in 2014. Before that, the family was financially struggling, she says. 'We had to think 10 times before spending, even if there was a need,' she recalls. 'Now, I help my husband with expenses from my Rs 10,000 salary. Earlier, we couldn't afford proper education for our kids,' she says. Today, all three of her sons, aged 15, 12, and 10, are in school. 'I had never seen Rs 10,000 in my bank account before JEEViKA, but working at Didi Ki Rasoi, I can now capitalise my culinary knowledge,' she says. Apart from the financial gains, she says the work has also helped her personal growth. 'In my initial days, I couldn't even read messages on my phone. I had to ask others for help,' she says. 'Now, I can read English too. I have had no formal training, but I have learned so much just by meeting different types of people through JEEViKA.' Rahul Kumar, a hospitality manager associated with the initiative, says most of the women come from poor backgrounds. 'But working at Didi Ki Rasoi — sharing space with officers, professionals, ministers — it changes their worldview. They learn a lot and also ensure that their children get an education,' he says. Before joining Didi Ki Rasoi, the women undergo week-long residential training at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Hajipur, where they learn basic hospitality, hygiene, customer service, and workplace conduct. For women like Sindhu Devi, Munni Devi, and Rabika Khatoon — all sole breadwinners of their families — Didi Ki Rasoi offers not just a means of survival, but also social security. Sindhu (30) got married in 2016, but just a year later, her husband, who was a farmer, passed away. Subsequently, she faced difficulties in the family, although her parents initially provided her support. In 2023, she then joined the Didi Ki Rasoi at Patel Bhawan. 'Since I started working at the police headquarters, I don't have much trouble. Apart from earning a livelihood, it gives me a sense of security that I am working among police officers,' she says. Rabika (30) also faced similar struggles. After her husband, a carpenter, died in 2016, she started working as a domestic help to support her three children, who are now in classes 6, 2 and 1. 'At the time (of the husband's death), my youngest son was just 18 months old… My in-laws used to taunt me. But ever since I started working with Didi Ki Rasoi, they show me respect,' she says. Initially shy, Rabika says she is now more confident. 'I used to be afraid to talk to people. Now, I manage the service counter confidently.' Munni Devi (25) shoulders the responsibility of her family after her husband, Ganesh Paswan, lost a leg in a truck accident two years ago. He worked as a painter and his income dried up following the accident. 'This job gives me hope to support my husband and six-year-old daughter,' Munni says. 'Working here makes me feel like we have come a long way. I couldn't study, but now I dream of a better future for my daughter. She is currently in class 1 in a government school.' JEEVIKA CEO Himanshu Sharma called Didi Ki Rasoi 'a powerful example of transformation in action'. 'It's not just about providing food, it's about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and showcasing women's leadership. Our Didis manage these kitchens with dedication and compassion, serving hospitals, government offices, and schools. They exemplify what grassroots leadership truly looks like,' Sharma says. Joint Secretary Rajesh Kumar, the senior in-charge of the Didi Ki Rasoi initiative, said there were big plans for the future. 'Didi Ki Rasoi stands as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of social empowerment among rural women… With the continued robust backing from the government and JEEViKA, Didi Ki Rasoi is poised for significant expansion, envisioning a future as a Rs 100-crore enterprise anchored in a strategic blend of cloud kitchens and premium cafes.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store