Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to continue its support for children living in difficult circumstances, with the State Cabinet approving the extension of the Jashoda scheme and its sub-scheme Ashirbad for another five years.
The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on August 12. The schemes will continue from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a projected budget of Rs 296.99 crore.
The Jashoda scheme provides financial, educational and social support to children who are without biological parents, have incapacitated parents, are affected or infected by HIV, or lost their primary breadwinner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The entire expenditure for the five-year period will be borne by the State Government through the Demand for Grants of the Women & Child Development Department.
Focus on education and rehabilitation
Under Jashoda, the government will continue a range of interventions aimed at ensuring the long-term welfare and self-reliance of vulnerable children. These include support for technical education, coaching for competitive examinations and scholarships, along with assistance under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
The scheme also provides for marriage assistance, periodic surveys of orphan children and issuance of orphan certificates. These measures are intended to ensure that children in difficult circumstances receive continued care, protection, rehabilitation and opportunities for holistic development.
Ashirbad to support COVID-affected children
Ashirbad, implemented as a sub-scheme under Jashoda, focuses particularly on children who lost both parents or their primary breadwinner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme provides monthly financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) along with other support through convergence with relevant government programmes.
The continuation of Ashirbad is aimed at ensuring that children affected by the pandemic continue to receive assistance for their education, health and overall well-being.
With the extension of Jashoda and Ashirbad, the government seeks to strengthen the social safety net for vulnerable children and ensure that financial or family hardships do not prevent them from pursuing education and building a secure future.
