Government schemes for women in Mizoram, from Bana Kaih loans to the widow pension

Also called IGNWPS Mizoram, widow pension Mizoram

₹1,300 a month (₹300 central plus ₹1,000 state). ₹1,500 a month above age 80.

A monthly pension for widows aged 40 and above. Mizoram adds ₹1,000 a month of its own to the central amount.

Status

The Directorate page shows the state share and 2,278 beneficiaries; the sister old age page says the state share is paid from 1 April 2024 (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Widow aged 40 years or more

Documents

• Aadhaar
• Husband's death certificate
• Age proof
• Bank account details

How to apply

1. Meet the District Social Welfare Officer or the Directorate of Social Welfare
2. Ask for the widow pension application form and the documents list

In person: District Social Welfare Officer in your district

Run by

Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Mizoram

The Directorate page gives only the age and the amounts. It does not state an income or poverty condition or the application steps, so ask the office. The central part of this scheme is national; only the ₹1,000 top-up is Mizoram's own.

Checked 15 October 2026 against IGNWP Scheme, Old Age Pension (state share from 1 April 2024) · Official page to apply

Also called STEU Mizoram

₹3,000 a year

A small yearly stipend for educated unemployed persons with a disability who are registered with the Special Employment Exchange. Women with a disability can get it.

Status

Listed on the Directorate's scheme pages with no closing date (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Educated unemployed person with a disability
• Registered with the Special Employment Exchange

Documents

• Disability certificate
• Special Employment Exchange registration

How to apply

1. Register with the Special Employment Exchange
2. The Exchange sends the list of eligible people to a Screening Committee, which picks who gets the stipend

In person: Special Employment Exchange and the Directorate of Social Welfare

Run by

Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Mizoram

The amount is small. Third-party sites quote ₹650 a month; the Directorate page says ₹3,000 a year, so this record uses the Directorate page. The page does not list documents or an income limit.

Checked 15 October 2026 against Stipend to Educated Unemployed · Official page to apply

Also called Mizoram employment exchange, EmpEx portal, job seeker registration Mizoram

Registration as a job seeker on the state employment portal, for a ₹20 service charge

Job seekers sign up on the state EmpEx portal to get employment news and an employment card. It is open to women and men.

Status

The EmpEx portal is live with helpline numbers (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Job seeker in Mizoram. The portal lists no other condition.

Documents

• Name and phone number to sign up
• Education and experience details to fill in the profile

How to apply

1. Open the EmpEx portal and choose Register as Jobseeker
2. Enter your name and phone number
3. Fill your education, experience and NCO code in your profile

In person: District Employment Exchange office (Aizawl, Lunglei, Siaha, Champhai) or a CSC, which charges ₹30 extra

Run by

Labour, Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Mizoram

Registration is not a job offer and does not pay an allowance. The portal says anyone who registered before 31 January 2023 should update the profile.

Checked 15 October 2026 against EmpEx Online, Labour, Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department · Official page to apply

Also called tailoring course Aizawl women disability, Social Welfare training centre

One-year tailoring course with a ₹700 a month stipend, and a sewing machine on completion

A one-year tailoring course for women with disabilities, with a monthly stipend and a sewing machine at the end. There is a residential women's centre in Aizawl.

Status

Three centres are listed on the Directorate page (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Women with disabilities (the centre is for specially-abled persons)

Documents

• Disability certificate

How to apply

1. Contact the Directorate of Social Welfare or your District Social Welfare Officer for admission details

In person: Directorate of Social Welfare, Aizawl

Run by

Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Mizoram

The page does not state age, income or how to apply, so ask at the office.

Checked 15 October 2026 against Training Centre for Specially-Abled Persons · Official page to apply

Also called Bana Kaih, Handholding Scheme, Bana Kaih 3.0, Progress Partner loan

Bank loan for a livelihood or business project, with the state paying back all of the interest for prompt repayment. Interest support applies on loans up to ₹50 lakh.

A loan scheme for people in Mizoram who run or plan a full-time livelihood project. It is open to women and men, and groups such as SHGs can apply as a group.

Status

Phase III launched on 18 September 2026 per news; the state portal handholding.mizoram.gov.in takes applications (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Citizen of India and permanent resident of Mizoram
• Age 18 to 60 to apply for loan support
• Not a full-time employee of the Central or any State government or their agencies
• Has a full-time, workable livelihood or business plan that is the main source of income
• Willing to attend the compulsory training and to repay the loan on time
• CIBIL score of 700 or more if she already has an account with a partner bank; no score needed if she has no credit history
• Groups such as SHGs, cooperatives and FPOs can also be Progress Partners

Documents

• Aadhaar
• Livelihood or business plan
• Bank account details
• Residence proof (permanent resident of Mizoram)

How to apply

1. Prepare your livelihood or business plan
2. Apply through the Handholding Portal, or ask the district or block office of the department for your activity to upload it for you
3. The department screens the application and sends it to a partner bank (SBI, Mizoram Rural Bank or Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank)

In person: The implementing department for your activity (for example Rural Development, Social Welfare, Women & Child Development) or the district office

Run by

Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Government of Mizoram

It is a loan, not a gift. Only 'Targeted' Progress Partners picked by the state get the full interest repayment and loan cover; General Progress Partners do not. In the pilot phase 140 of 517 selected partners (27 per cent) were women, per the Chief Minister in February 2025 (news). The document list is my reading of what a bank asks for; the guidelines do not list documents in the part I read.

Checked 15 October 2026 against Guidelines for Handholding Support to Progress Partners, Phase-III (copy of the Mizoram Planning Department guidelines), Mizoram Handholding (Bana Kaih) Portal, Governor's Address, Ninth Mizoram Legislative Assembly, 19 February 2025, Mizoram CM launches Bana Kaih 3.0 (status only) · Official page to apply

Also called CM Special Category Scheme, Bana Kaih grant

A small grant of not more than ₹50,000 for a livelihood project, for people who cannot take a loan

A one-time grant for a small livelihood project when the person cannot get a loan. There is no upper age limit.

Status

Part of Bana Kaih Phase III; the guidelines are dated after February 2025 and the portal is live (checked 15 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Citizen of India and permanent resident of Mizoram
• Age 18 or more, with no upper age limit for this grant
• Not a full-time government employee
• Has a livelihood project that a small grant can boost, and cannot take a loan

Documents

• Aadhaar
• Short project plan
• Bank account details

How to apply

1. Ask the department for your activity or the district office to help you apply
2. They upload your application on the Handholding Portal
3. The Chief Minister's Office assesses it and the grant goes to your bank account

In person: Implementing department or district office

Run by

Planning & Programme Implementation Department and Chief Minister's Office, Government of Mizoram

The Governor's address of February 2025 says up to ₹1 lakh; the Phase III guidelines say not more than ₹50,000. This record uses the newer guidelines. The grant goes to selected people, not everyone who applies, and is meant for the project only.

Checked 15 October 2026 against Guidelines for Handholding Support to Progress Partners, Phase-III (copy of the Mizoram Planning Department guidelines), Governor's Address, Ninth Mizoram Legislative Assembly, 19 February 2025, Mizoram Handholding (Bana Kaih) Portal · Official page to apply