Odisha Cabinet Approves Key Changes to Subhadra Yojana, New Paddy Procurement Price, and Air Connectivity Boost

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Cabinet approved five key proposals on Wednesday, including significant modifications to the Subhadra Yojana and measures to support farmers and enhance air connectivity across the state.

In a major decision, the Cabinet approved changes to the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at financially empowering women and providing safety nets to them and their families. The scheme, launched on August 22, 2024, has a budget allocation of ₹55,825 crore for a five-year period. So far, over 1 crore applicants have registered on the Subhadra portal, and more than 60 lakh beneficiaries have been approved in two phases. However, 2.7 lakh applications have been disapproved, the Cabinet noted.

In a significant move to support farmers, the Cabinet approved a paddy procurement price of ₹3,100 per quintal. To facilitate this, the state will open 4,000 paddy purchase centers, with one office per market. The Odisha government also assured that farmers would receive payments within 48 hours of selling their produce.

The Cabinet also greenlit the implementation of the “Samruddhi Krushak Yojana,” aimed at increasing farmers’ income. Under the scheme, registered farmers will receive ₹3,100 per quintal for their paddy, including input assistance and the prevailing Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Additionally, paddy seed growers registered under the Odisha State Seed and Organic Products Certification Agency (OSSOPCA) and selling through the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) Ltd. will also benefit from input assistance under this scheme.

The Odisha government has introduced a new policy to enhance air connectivity within the state. This initiative offers financial incentives to airlines for launching new domestic and international routes from Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar), Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda), and smaller airports in Jeypore, Rourkela, and Utkela. The policy aims to improve access and drive economic growth by connecting more regions across the state.