Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has officially launched the much-anticipated ‘Subhadra’ scheme aimed at empowering over a crore women across the state. The announcement was made on Friday in the Assembly, following the scheme’s approval by the state cabinet.
Under the Subhadra scheme, women aged between 21 and 60 years will receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually, disbursed in two instalments directly into their bank accounts. Over the next five years, each eligible woman will receive a total of Rs 50,000, which they can use at their discretion. The scheme is scheduled to commence in the 2024-25 financial year and will run until 2028-29, with an estimated total expenditure of Rs 55,825 crore.
Beneficiaries will receive Rs 5,000 on Rakhi Purnima and International Women’s Day (March 8) each year. To ensure transparency and efficiency, funds will be transferred through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS), and each beneficiary will also receive a ‘Subhadra’ debit card.
To participate in the scheme, women can apply using forms available at Anganwadi centres, block offices, Mo Seva Kendras, and Public Service Centres. A dedicated call centre will also be set up to assist with the application process. The Women and Child Development Department will establish a ‘Subhadra’ committee to oversee the scheme’s implementation and monitoring.
In a bid to promote digital transactions, an additional incentive of Rs 500 will be awarded to the 100 beneficiaries in each gram panchayat and municipality who conduct the highest number of digital transactions.
However, the scheme excludes women from economically weaker sections, those in government employment, and income tax payers. Additionally, women who already receive Rs 1,500 or more per month (or Rs 18,000 annually) under any other government scheme are ineligible for Subhadra.
Chief Minister Majhi described the Subhadra scheme as a landmark initiative in the state’s ongoing efforts to empower women. “This scheme will transform the lives of over a crore women in Odisha. It is a visionary decision that fulfils the promises made by our government. We seek active cooperation to ensure that no eligible woman is left out of this scheme,” he stated.
The Subhadra scheme is expected to have a significant impact on women’s financial independence and overall empowerment, reflecting the state government’s commitment to gender equity and social welfare.
Comments are closed.