Odisha Deputy CM: over 98 lakh women benefited from Subhadra scheme, more aid to follow
Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development, Pravati Parida, emphasized the impact of the Subhadra Scheme, noting that over 98 lakh women have already benefitted from it. She announced that additional support would be provided on Thursday, with a major financial disbursement set for International Women’s Day on March 8.
“We have provided benefits to more than 98 lakh women under the Subhadra Scheme, nearing our target of 1 crore beneficiaries. On Thursday, assistance will be extended to 1.7 lakh more women. On Saturday, i.e. March 8, Rs. 5,000 crore will be distributed among 1 crore women,” Parida stated.
The Subhadra Scheme, a transformative initiative for women’s empowerment, was first introduced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the state legislative assembly in August 2024.
The scheme is aimed at enhancing financial support for women in Odisha between the ages of 21 and 60. A total of Rs. 55,825 crore has been allocated for the scheme, which will run from 2024 to 2029.
Under Subhadra, eligible women will receive Rs. 10,000 per year in two installments of Rs. 5,000, paid on Raksha Bandhan and International Women’s Day. Over the course of five years, each beneficiary will receive a total of Rs. 50,000.
To ensure transparency, payments will be directly credited to the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts via the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). Beneficiaries will also receive a Subhadra Debit Card.
In a bid to promote digital transactions, 100 women with the highest digital transaction activity from each Gram Panchayat and Urban Local Body will be selected to receive an extra incentive of Rs. 500.
The scheme is targeted toward economically disadvantaged women. Women from well-off families, government servants, income tax payees, and those already receiving financial assistance of Rs. 1,500 or more per month under other government schemes will not be eligible for Subhadra benefits.
