Odisha Announces ₹10,000 Annual Aid for Women Under Subhadra Yojana

In a significant move to support women, the Odisha government has launched the Subhadra Yojana, which will provide ₹10,000 annually to each eligible beneficiary. This assistance will be disbursed in two equal installments of ₹5,000 each—one on Rakhi Purnima and the other on International Women’s Day (March 8). Over the course of five years, each eligible woman will receive a total of ₹50,000.

The Subhadra Yojana, named after Lord Jagannath's sister, is a key promise from the BJP's election manifesto, which contributed to their victory in June. The scheme is specifically designed to aid women who are residents of Odisha, aged between 21 and 60 years on the cut-off date of July 1, 2024, for the 2024-25 financial year.

Applicants from economically well-off families, government employees, and income taxpayers are ineligible for the scheme. Additionally, women receiving ₹1,500 or more a month, or ₹18,000 or more annually from other government schemes, will not qualify. In the event of a beneficiary's death, the assistance will be discontinued, and no claims can be made by family members.

To facilitate the disbursement of funds, payments will be made directly into beneficiaries' Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts. Beneficiaries will also receive a Subhadra Debit Card. As part of a push for digital transactions, the scheme will reward the top 100 beneficiaries with the highest number of digital transactions in each gram panchayat and urban local body with an extra ₹500 incentive.

A high-level committee led by the chief secretary will oversee the implementation of the scheme, with similar panels at district, block, and urban body levels. The government has also instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure security and take legal action against any middlemen or fraudulent activities related to the scheme.

The Odisha government anticipates that over one crore women will benefit from Subhadra Yojana, reflecting its commitment to empowering women across the state.