Transforming Rural Bihar: Evaluating JEEViKA's Young Professional Program

Shreya Srivastava, Research Scholar Department of Commerce, Jai Prakash University, Chapra

Keywords: rural transformation, JEEViKA, Young Professional Program, capacity building, Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society

In the year 2012, the Government of Bihar initiated a scheme under JEEViKA called the “Young

Professional Program” to recruit young, talented professionals under the age of 30. This scheme aims to

bring motivated individuals into Bihar's development sector. The Young Professional Program of JEEViKA

is a strategic step taken by the Government of Bihar, which aims to improve the quality of the program,

empower women, and strengthen community institutions. The framework that supports the Young

Professionals like mentoring, a buddy system, and 74 days of formal training that promotes professional

growth. Over the years, this program has brought up significant pathways by bringing up new perspectives,

building leadership capacity, and promoting gender equality. Although this program has contributed

significantly to rural transformation, however, significant challenges have been noted such as career

dissatisfaction, compensation issues, and a high attrition rate in long-term engagement. Existing literature

has been reviewed indicating focused efforts have been given to the recruitment of the program and its

structural designs, but there is a critical gap that remains in assessing its long-term impact on rural

development, gender inequality, and turnover challenges. This paper aims to examine the objective,

structure, impact, opportunities, and challenges of the program and concludes with policy recommendations

including developing structured career pathways, improving compensation, ensuring gender-sensitive

practices, strengthening mentorship, and instituting regular impact assessments. Addressing these areas will

enhance the program's sustainability and contribution to rural development in Bihar.