Author: admin Women Empowering Bihar: 30 Years of Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh and Dussehra Mela 2024 With the theme “Women Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality,” the 2024 Dussehra
Women Empowering Bihar: 30 Years of Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh and Dussehra Mela 2024
With the theme “Women Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality,” the 2024 Dussehra Mela showcases BMUS’s commitment to creating a more inclusive business environment. This year, around 220 stalls, featuring vendors from Bihar and beyond, displayed a rich array of products, including silk, handloom items, jewelry, sattu, and Mithila paintings—each piece a proud emblem of Bihar’s cultural heritage.
Bihar’s Industries Minister, Nitish Mishra, inaugurated the event alongside Anubha Prasad, marking the government’s support for women-led enterprises. Supported by the Department of Industries and SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), the event continues to highlight the government and industry’s partnership in supporting BMUS’s mission.
The Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh traces its roots back to the late 1990s, founded by Smt. Pushpa Chopra. In a time when Bihar was facing difficult economic and social conditions, Chopra’s vision of empowering women through entrepreneurship brought hope and change. Starting from scratch, Pushpa Chopra worked tirelessly to establish BMUS as a respected organization in Bihar, often with the support of SIDBI. Even before BMUS was formally registered, SIDBI provided financial aid for its first Dussehra Mela and continued its support through initiatives like training programs and resources for the BMUS website and membership directory.
The legacy of Pushpa Chopra lives on, particularly under the leadership of Usha Jha, who took on the role of president after Chopra’s passing in 2018. Jha has continued to strengthen BMUS, furthering its impact on Bihar’s women entrepreneurs.
Behind the success of BMUS and the Dussehra Mela lies the inspirational journey of Usha Jha. Born in a small village in Bihar’s Purnia district, Jha overcame numerous personal and professional obstacles to launch Petals Crafts in 1991. Her venture, which began as a small business, eventually garnered international recognition, reaching markets in the United States, Dubai, and Singapore. Domestically, her clientele includes the Government of Bihar, Indian Railways, and leading banks like the State Bank of India. Petals Crafts’ signature Mithila paintings are featured on trains such as the Gareeb Rath and Sampoorna Kranti, proudly taking Bihar’s heritage across the nation.
The Dussehra Mela is more than a fair—it’s a symbol of resilience, progress, and the economic potential of Bihar’s women. The products at each stall echo the hard work and creative spirit of women artisans and entrepreneurs who are transforming the socio-economic landscape of Bihar.
With each passing year, BMUS’s Dussehra Mela becomes a greater beacon of empowerment, reaching new milestones in its mission. It provides women with the platform, visibility, and resources necessary to succeed, fostering an environment where they can turn their aspirations into thriving businesses.
