Bihar Alpsankhyak Muslim Parityakta/Talakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Muslim ParityaktaTalakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana is a financial assistance scheme implemented by the Minority Welfare Department, Government of Bihar. The scheme has been in operation since the financial year 2006-07 to provide financial support to economically weaker minority Muslim women who have been deserted by their husbands or have been divorced. The primary objective of the scheme is to strengthen the financial condition of such women and help them become self-reliant through financial assistance.

The benefit of this scheme is available only to eligible minority Muslim deserted and divorced women in Bihar. Under the scheme, a deserted woman is one whose husband has abandoned her for two years or more without making any arrangement for her livelihood, or whose husband is unable to maintain the family due to complete mental disability. A divorced woman is one who has been divorced by her husband and has no proper means of livelihood.

Initially, eligible beneficiaries received a one-time financial assistance of ₹10,000 under the scheme. From the financial year 2017-18, the assistance amount was increased to ₹25,000. This financial assistance is provided only once during the lifetime of an eligible beneficiary.

The scheme is implemented by the Directorate of Minority Welfare, Bihar. After applications are received, they are verified and scrutinized at the district level. Once eligible beneficiaries are selected, the approved financial assistance is transferred directly to their bank accounts through NEFT/RTGS. Through this scheme, the Government of Bihar provides financial support to economically weaker minority Muslim deserted and divorced women to help them lead a dignified life and become self-reliant.

Scheme Benefits

• Eligible minority Muslim deserted and divorced women receive a one-time financial assistance of ₹25,000.
• The financial assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account through NEFT/RTGS.
• The benefit under this scheme is provided only once during the lifetime of an eligible beneficiary.

Eligibility Requirements

To avail the benefits of the Muslim ParityaktaTalakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana, the applicant must fulfill the following eligibility conditions:

• The applicant must be a Minority Muslim woman.
• The applicant must be either a deserted woman or a divorced woman, as defined under the scheme.
• A deserted woman is one whose husband has abandoned her for two years or more without making any arrangement for her livelihood, or whose husband is unable to maintain the family due to complete mental disability.
• A divorced woman is one who has been divorced by her husband and has no proper means of livelihood.
• The applicant must be 18 to 50 years of age.
• The applicant's annual income from all sources must be less than ₹4,00,000.
• In cases where the applicant is claiming eligibility because of her husband's complete mental disability, a certificate issued by the Civil Surgeon of the concerned district must be submitted.
• Widowed (Widow/Musammat) women are not eligible under this scheme.
• The benefit under this scheme is available only once during the lifetime of the beneficiary.
• Providing the Aadhaar Number is mandatory for availing the benefits of the scheme.

Definition of Deserted and Divorced Women under the Scheme

1. Muslim Deserted Woman

Under the scheme, a Muslim Deserted Woman means a minority Muslim woman who was previously married but has been abandoned by her husband for two years or more, and whose husband has made no arrangement for her livelihood. In addition, if a woman's husband is completely mentally disabled and is therefore unable to maintain his family, such a woman shall also be considered a deserted woman under this scheme.

2. Muslim Divorced Woman

Under the scheme, a Muslim Divorced Woman means a minority Muslim woman who has been divorced by her husband and has no proper means of livelihood. Such a woman shall be treated as a divorced woman under this scheme and shall be eligible to receive benefits, subject to fulfilling the prescribed conditions.

Required Documents

The applicant must attach the following documents along with the application form:

• Self-Declaration
• Recommendation Letter/Certificate of Being Deserted or Divorced: The applicant must submit a recommendation letter or certificate confirming that she is deserted or divorced, issued by any one of the following competent authorities.
• A. Public Representatives
  • Mukhiya
  • Sarpanch
  • Elected Ward Representative of the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, or
  • Nagar Panchayat
  • Block Pramukh
  • Member of the Panchayat Samiti or the Legislature or Parliament (MP)
• B. Court/Government Institution/Office Authorities
  • Family Court
  • Block Development Officer (BDO)
  • Circle Officer (CO)
  • District Minority Welfare Officer
  • Head Mudarris of a Government-aided Madrasa
  • Principal of a Government School or College
  • Gazetted Officer of the State Government or Central Government
• C. Other Authorized Institutions
  • Standard/Registered Institutions of the Muslim Community located at the District
  • Headquarters of the State
  • Secretary of the District Auqaf Committee
  • Mutawalli of a Registered Waqf
• Age Proof: The applicant must be between 18 and 50 years of age.
• Any one of the following documents will be accepted as proof of age:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Matriculation or equivalent certificate showing the date of birth
  • Voter Identity Card
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Passport
  • Affidavit issued by an Executive Magistrate
• Income Certificate: The applicant's annual income from all sources must be less than ₹4,00,000.
• The Income Certificate must be issued by the Circle Officer (CO).
• Mental Disability Certificate of the Husband (if applicable): If the applicant is claiming eligibility because her husband is completely mentally disabled, she must attach a certificate issued by the Civil Surgeon of the concerned district.
• Passport-size Colour Photograph: A recent self-attested passport-size colour photograph must be affixed in the space provided on the application form.

Scheme Implementation

• The scheme shall be implemented by the Directorate of Minority Welfare, Bihar.
• The Directorate of Minority Welfare will publish advertisements in newspapers inviting applications under the scheme.
• After receiving the applications, the District Minority Welfare Officer shall scrutinize the application forms and all supporting documents in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

Verification of the Authenticity of Deserted/Divorced Women

• Under the scheme, the verification regarding whether the applicant is genuinely a deserted or divorced woman shall be completed within one month by the District Magistrate through the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO) or Circle Officer (CO).
• In addition, the District Minority Welfare Officer shall independently verify at least 10% of the total applications received and attach a certificate confirming such verification with the applications.

Other Eligibility Conditions

• Widowed (Widow/Musammat) women are not eligible to receive benefits under this scheme.
• The benefit under this scheme shall be available only once during the lifetime of the beneficiary.
• Submission of the Aadhaar Number is mandatory for availing the benefits of the scheme.

Other Important Provisions

• The Directorate of Minority Welfare may utilize up to 3% of the funds available under the scheme for administrative expenses such as publicity, awareness campaigns, contractual services, and publication of advertisements.
• Eligible Muslim deserted and divorced women shall submit their applications in the prescribed application form to the Office of the District Minority Welfare Officer.
• The District Minority Welfare Officer shall record all received applications in a register maintained in the prescribed format.
• The applicant must attach a copy of her own bank passbook, clearly showing the IFSC Code, along with the application form.
• The financial assistance shall be transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through NEFT/RTGS.
• The benefit of the scheme shall also be extended to applicants whose applications were pending before the date of issuance of the Government Resolution and who could not receive the grant amount.
• The names and addresses of the beneficiaries shall be published on the Department's website as well as in one Urdu and one Hindi daily newspaper. Beneficiaries shall also be informed through SMS.

Steps to Apply

Eligible minority Muslim deserted and divorced women who wish to avail the benefits of this scheme must submit their application in the prescribed application form. The duly filled application form, along with all the required documents, must be submitted to the Office of the District Minority Welfare Officer. The application should be completed carefully, and all information provided must be accurate and complete.

• Step 1: Obtain the prescribed application form from the Office of the District Minority Welfare Officer.
• Step 2: Fill in all the required details in the application form, including the applicant's name, mobile number, complete address, date of birth, details regarding being deserted or divorced, bank account details, Aadhaar number, annual income, and all other required information.
• Step 3: Affix a recent self-attested passport-size colour photograph in the space provided on the application form.
• Step 4: Attach all the required documents, including the copy of the bank passbook, self-attested copy of the Aadhaar Card, Income Certificate, Age Proof, and the Deserted/Divorced Certificate or Recommendation Letter. If the applicant is claiming eligibility because of her husband's complete mental disability, the certificate issued by the Civil Surgeon of the concerned district must also be attached.
• Step 5: Carefully read and complete the Self-Declaration provided in the application form. The names, addresses, and mobile numbers of two local witnesses who are not close relatives must also be mentioned.
• Step 6: After verifying all the information and attached documents, submit the completed application form to the Office of the District Minority Welfare Officer and keep the Application Receipt safely for future reference.

Important Note

• The application must be submitted only in the prescribed application form.
• The prescribed format of the Deserted/Divorced Recommendation Certificate can be obtained from the Office of the District Minority Welfare Officer.
• The prescribed format can also be downloaded from the Department's website.
• Format of the Deserted/Divorced Certificate / Recommendation Letter

Relevant Links

• Official Website of Minority Welfare Department, Government of Bihar
• Official Guidelines of the Muslim Parityakta/Talakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana
• Application form of Muslim Parityakta/Talakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana
• Declaration Certificate of Muslim Parityakta/Talakshuda Mahila Sahayata Yojana

Contact Information

Minority Welfare Department, Government of Bihar

• Address: Minority Welfare Directorate Block No. 4, First Floor, Purana Sachivalaya, Bihar Patna – 800015
• Website:: www.minoritywelfare.bih.nic.in
• Toll Free Number: 18003456123