PCI India reposted this
While urbanization drives economic growth, it also intensifies urban poverty, requiring innovative and impactful solutions. One such transformative initiative by the Government of Bihar is the Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY) - Urban, aimed at uplifting the ultra-poor in urban areas through the community-led Graduation Approach. Kiran’s journey deeply resonates with me, an SJY Urban program participant from Gaya, Bihar. She has faced immense challenges due to extreme poverty and locomotive disability. After the loss of her parents, Kiran struggled to make a living by rolling agarbatti (incense sticks), barely earning ₹100-150 a day. Through the SJY Urban program, implemented by JEEVIKA, Rural Development Department, Government of Bihar with technical assistance from BRAC International & PCI India, Kiran received an initial capital support of ₹15,000. With this financial support, along with regular coaching from her Graduation Coaches and PCI India, Kiran transitioned from the health risks of making agarbatti to running a small kirana shop from her home. Today, Kiran is proud of her progress and optimistic about building a more secure future. At PCI India, we are dedicated to strengthen SJY Urban’s impact through hands-on support and capacity building, empowering women like Kiran with the tools and knowledge to thrive. BRAC International, via the Project Management Unit (PMU) led by PCI India, provides technical assistance to JEEViKA for SJY Urban in the urban local bodies (ULBs) of Patna and Gaya. Shantamay Chatterjee II Amit Kumar Shahi #WomensEconomicEmpowerment #SJY #Urbanlivelihoods #GraduationApproach #JEEViKA #BRAC #PCIIndia