Patna, March 1 (ABN) The "New Bihar Rural Transformation Project (BRTP) - Jeevika-3" has been approved to strengthen the previous projects with the financial assistance of the National Rural Livelihood Mission and the World Bank. In a letter issued by Pankaj Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Rural Development, it has been stated that the objective of approving this scheme is to increase the productive capacity, income, and employment opportunities in the state, and to enhance the products of self-help groups. The project has a duration of six years, which will be implemented from the financial year 2027-2026, with a total cost of three thousand crore rupees. The World Bank will bear 70 percent of the total amount, while the state government will bear 30 percent.

The Principal Secretary said that according to the set target, the development of markets for agricultural products, livestock, and non-agricultural products and services, along with the public-private community model, value chain infrastructure development, branding, marketing, digital, and financial framework will create a new path for international trade and commerce. Along with this, several basic infrastructures will be developed for the development of entrepreneurship. He said that the basic focus of BRTP-Jeevika 3 is project management, which includes the development and strengthening of self-reliant community organizations, economic clusters, and entrepreneurship, and digital and technological systems for multi-sectoral economic development.

Under the aforementioned measures, the capacity of self-help groups, villages, and cluster organizations, along with producer companies, will be enhanced in Bihar. This will promote solar mart, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and non-agriculture-based industries, artisans, and products in the state. Primarily, the business of fisheries, dairy, poultry, fish, and beekeeping will get a new identity. The Principal Secretary said that along with this, the government also plans to promote non-agriculture-based business institutions in the state.

Under the project, at the village level, the development of warehouses, cold storages, seed plants, processing units, hatcheries, and chilling plants will be undertaken, along with the creation of digital platforms for access to markets. This will enable traders to work in collaboration with private sector partners, leading to an expected increase in their productive capacity. The Principal Secretary said that under BRTP-Jeevika-3, preparations are being made to make a total of one thousand cluster-level organizations self-sufficient. This will enable families associated with small industries and businesses to easily access social and financial services.

Cluster-level organizations will be encouraged to reinvest a portion of their profits in community services. This will encourage group members, rural industrialists, and mobile banking and digital payment services. In this regard, Rural Development and Transport Minister Mr. Sharwan Kumar said that the Bihar Rural Transformation Project Jeevika will work to bring revolutionary changes in the development of families and groups. This will strengthen small and large industries and businesses in rural areas, creating thousands and lakhs of employment opportunities. Particularly, a new record will be set in the state in the direction of women's empowerment.