Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana is the state's rural livelihood mission, officially known as the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (CGSRLM). It brings poor and deprived rural women together in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and helps them build a steady income through savings, credit, skill training, and self-employment. 

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, launched the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in June 2011 to remove rural poverty. On 1 June 2011, the Panchayat and Rural Development Department of Chhattisgarh set up the "Chhattisgarh Rajya Gramin Aajeevika Samvardhan Samiti" under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to run this mission in the state. The state named it "Bihan", which means "dawn" (Sabera), a new beginning for rural families.

The government launched Bihan to change the social and economic condition of poor rural families through their own community institutions. Its objective is clear: organise at least one woman from every poor and deprived rural household into an SHG, build higher-level federations such as Village Organisations (VO), Cluster Level Federations (CLF), Block Level Federations (BLF) and district federations, give members training, skill development, financial inclusion, market and infrastructure support, and help every poor rural household raise its annual income by more than ₹1 lakh through Bihan activities and convergence with other schemes.

Bihan does not pay individuals a fixed cash benefit. Instead, it supports SHGs and their federations with community funds. The mission works in a simple chain. Women from SECC 2011-listed poor families form groups of 10 to 15 members, save regularly, lend internally, and repay on time. Trained Community Resource Persons (CRPs) help form new groups and revive inactive ones. Over time, these groups join VOs and CLFs, which manage funds, livelihoods, and bank linkages.

Bihan continues to function actively across Chhattisgarh. In recent months, the mission has supported numerous women Self-Help Group members in starting and expanding livelihood activities, including small manufacturing and service-based enterprises. Membership remains open throughout the year with no fixed deadline. Rural women can join an existing SHG or form a new group at the village level at any time through local Community Resource Persons or Bihan officials. 

Bihan also runs or links members with farm livelihoods (Krishi Mitra, Pashu Sakhi, tool banks), the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), Deendayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), RSETI training, Project LIFE-MGNREGA and the "Bihan Bazaar" marketing brand.

Along with Bihan, the Government of Chhattisgarh is also running other important schemes to make women self-reliant and economically stronger. Under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, eligible married women receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 directly in their bank accounts to support their economic independence and well-being. The state also runs the Mukhyamantri Saksham Suraksha Yojana, offering eligible women low-interest loans of up to ₹2 lakh to start their own small businesses. Interested women can check the complete and latest details of these schemes here.

Scheme Benefits

Bihan gives benefits to SHGs and their federations, which then lend to members for livelihood needs. The following key benefits are available to beneficiaries through this process.

Financial Support to SHGs and Federations

• Revolving Fund (RF): ₹15,000 to SHGs that are three months old and follow the Panchsutra.
• Community Investment Fund (CIF): ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 to SHGs that are five months old, based on a Micro Credit Plan (MCP) prepared through MCP master trainers.
• Bank Loan: ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh through banks to SHGs that are six months old and follow the Panchsutra.
• Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF): Up to ₹1.50 lakh to Village Organisations to support extremely poor and vulnerable families.
• Start-up Fund: ₹35,000 to each Village Organisation and ₹2 lakh to each Cluster Level Federation.
• Community Enterprise Fund: Initial financial support as a loan, along with bank linkage, for rural entrepreneurs under SVEP after approval of their business plan.

Eligibility Requirements

Bihan primarily targets women from poor and deprived rural households, and applicants must meet the following eligibility conditions.

• The applicant should be a woman from a poor or deprived rural household of Chhattisgarh.
• Bihan organises women from families listed in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 into SHGs.
• A group can have 10 to 15 women members.
• Bihan gives priority to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), persons with disabilities, women-headed families (widowed, abandoned, divorced), landless families, SC/ST families, and families left out of surveys.
• The group must follow the Panchsutra to receive funds: regular meetings, regular savings, regular internal lending, regular loan repayment, and proper record-keeping.

Required Documents

When a Community Resource Person (CRP) or Bihan staff helps form a new SHG or includes a woman in an existing one at the village level, the following documents are usually asked:

• Aadhaar card (most essential for identity verification)
• Bank passbook or bank account details
• Residence proof (sometimes)
• Passport-size photograph
• In some cases, ration card or SECC-related information may also be requested

Steps to Apply

Bihan does not provide any individual online application form for beneficiaries. Women can join the scheme only through the Self-Help Group (SHG) process at the village level by following the steps below.

• Meet the Bihan Community Resource Person (CRP), an active SHG member in your village, or the Bihan officials at the block or district office.
• Join an existing SHG or form a new group of 10 to 15 women from poor households with the help of the CRP. CRP teams of 4 to 5 members visit new villages to form groups and revive inactive ones.
• Hold regular meetings, save regularly, lend internally, repay loans on time, and maintain records.
• Bihan helps the group access banking services through Bank Mitras and Bank Sakhis.
• After three months of following the Panchsutra, the group receives ₹15,000 as RF.
• After five months, Micro Credit Plan master trainers help the group prepare its MCP, and the group receives ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 as CIF.
• After six months, the group can get a bank loan of ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh for livelihood activities.
• The group joins its Village Organisation and Cluster Level Federation to access VRF, livelihood programmes and market support.

Relevant Links

• CGSRLM Bihan Portal
• Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana Details
• Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana Brochures

Contact Information

• Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana Helpline Number: 0771-2512395
• Chhattisgarh Bihan Yojana Helpdesk Email: [email protected]