Bihar’s Didi Ki Rasoi, a women-run kitchen initiative, will open at 19 major bus depots in Patna and other cities to improve food services and empower women
Bihar Expands Community Kitchen Initiative to Bus Depots
After operating over 300 kitchen units in Bihar, the government-supported community kitchen initiative “Didi Ki Rasoi” will now extend to 19 major bus depots in the state, officials said.
| Bus Depot Locations |
|---|
| Bankipur |
| Ara |
| Biharsharif |
| Phulwarisharif |
| Muzaffarpur |
| Sitamarhi |
| Motihari |
| Chhapra |
| Siwan |
| Darbhanga |
| Gaya |
| Aurangabad |
| Jehanabad |
| Nawada |
| Bhagalpur |
| Jamui |
| Munger |
| Purnea |
| Saharsa |
The canteens under the Jeevika Didi’s Kitchen Scheme will open at these bus depots, with potential for further expansion, according to transport department officials.
Bihar’s minister for transport and rural development, Shravan Kumar, announced this decision during a program marking the end of Saras Mela in Patna on Sunday. Saras Mela showcases rural crafts and livelihoods, focusing on women-led self-help groups.
Officials stated that the decision followed the minister’s inspections of several bus depots, including Nawada. He expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of food and beverage facilities. Kumar noted that poor food arrangements at bus depots inconvenience passengers, drivers, and staff, especially during long journeys. He directed officials to introduce Jeevika Didi’s kitchen services at these locations immediately.
A government communique indicated that this initiative aims to improve passenger amenities, enhance the image of state bus depots, support driver welfare, and strengthen women’s economic empowerment through self-employment.
“Didi Ki Rasoi” currently operates extensively across the state in hospitals, government offices, and other institutions. It serves around 2.5 lakh people daily across 10 medical college hospitals, 36 district hospitals, and 50 sub-divisional hospitals, among others.
An official reported that the scheme has been serving nearly 21,000 police personnel four times a day since July last year, following a recent constable recruitment drive. “We opened 39 kitchen units at police training centres within 72 hours after receiving approval from the home department on July 18 last year,” the official said.
The Bihar government aims to generate up to one crore employment opportunities through Jeevika Didis in the coming years. Over 1.40 crore women are enrolled under Jeevika, the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), which was launched in 2006 to reduce poverty by empowering women through self-help groups.
As part of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, a Bihar government scheme launched before the assembly elections in 2025, one woman per eligible family received an initial cash grant of ₹10,000 directly into her bank account via direct benefit transfer. This aims to help women in Jeevika self-help groups start small self-employment ventures.
