Odisha CM Announces SOP for SUBHADRA Yojana to Empower Over 1 Crore Women

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the implementation of the much-anticipated SUBHADRA Yojana, aimed at empowering over 1 crore women across the state. The announcement was made during a session in the State Assembly, following the Cabinet’s approval of the scheme earlier this week.

The SUBHADRA Yojana, approved by the State Cabinet on August 22, 2024, is set to be implemented from the financial year 2024-25 and will continue through 2028-29. With an outlay of ₹55,825 crore, the scheme promises to provide financial assistance to eligible women in Odisha, transforming their lives through direct benefits.

Key Highlights of the SUBHADRA Yojana:

• Beneficiary Coverage: The scheme will target all eligible women in Odisha aged between 21 and 60 years.
• Financial Assistance: Women beneficiaries will receive ₹10,000 per year, paid in two installments of ₹5,000 each. The first installment will be distributed on Rakhi Purnima Day, while the second installment will be paid on International Women’s Day (March 8). Over the five-year duration of the scheme, each woman will receive ₹50,000.
• Transparent Payment System: To ensure transparency, the assistance will be credited directly to the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank accounts through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). A SUBHADRA Debit Card will also be issued to all beneficiaries.
• Incentives for Digital Transactions: The scheme will further encourage digital transactions. In each Gram Panchayat and Urban Local Body, 100 women with the highest number of digital transactions will receive an additional incentive of ₹500.

The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness. “Our government is focused on ‘Antyodaya’—uplifting the poorest of the poor,” Majhi stated. To that end, women from economically well-off families, government servants, Income Tax payees, and those receiving ₹1,500 or more per month (or ₹18,000 or more annually) under other government schemes will be ineligible for the SUBHADRA Yojana.

Application Process: Women can apply for the scheme by filling out forms available at Anganwadi Centres, Block Offices, Mo Seva Kendras, and Jan Seva Kendras, all free of cost. Additionally, a dedicated call center will be established to assist applicants.

To monitor the effective implementation of the scheme, the Women and Child Development Department will set up a SUBHADRA Society. The state government is working diligently to launch the initiative as soon as possible, ensuring that eligible women benefit from this transformative program.