Bihar has progressed with respect to women's empowerment: Senior bureaucrat

Bihar has witnessed a visible change in the status of women over the years, and the state government is strengthening the narrative to ensure women are realising their potential, according to a senior bureaucrat.

At a fireside chat at SheSparks 2026, YourStory's flagship event that celebrates women leaders, Bandana Preyashi, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Bihar, said, “I have seen the visible change in terms of aspirations of women, girls and how they are surmounting it.”

Interacting with YourStory founder Shradha Sharma, the secretary remarked that Bihar has the maximum number of women in the forces now in the entire country. “We are creating a narrative where women will come out of their house and fulfill their potential.”

This has been made possible due to the various enabling policies of the Bihar government, like building hostels for girls, creating creches, providing bicycles for school students, and expanding the role of skilling, she said.

Preyashi said there is always the challenge of stereotyping with respect to the roles of women, and the government is creating enabling policies to assist them in stepping out of their homes.

The secretary remarked that whenever there is talk of skilling to women, it is always restricted to stitching, knitting, and tailoring but now they get skills in areas such as drone pilots, computers, and plumbing.

“We have to create policies which enable them to realise their dreams and make their difficulties a little less,” she said.

Preyashi also brought forth a challenge the government faces when it brings intervention policies that support women: the unspoken opposition of the men.

The secretary remarked that women have a dual duty: at both the workplace and at home. She said girls attending school often have to finish their work at home before they attend classes.

Preyashi batted for more women in the higher echelons of the government, especially in the area of policy-making as they are more attuned to the problems of society. “We bring a different sensitivity to policy-making,” she said.

While there are several government policies empowering women and girl children, there is still a long way to go in terms of changes in society's outlook, she said.

On the question of women not being supportive of women, Preyashi said, “This is a myth created by men.”