Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today released over Rs 5,160 crore as the fifth instalment of the Subhadra Yojana directly to more than one crore women beneficiaries during an event at Lathipada in Nayagarh district on Friday.
Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and senior leader from ruling BJP attended the event, where a total of 1,03,26,162 beneficiaries, including 2,21,054 first-time recipients, received the instalment directly into their bank accounts.
CM Majhi, speaking at the disbursement of the fifth instalment of the Subhadra Scheme, extended greetings to women across Odisha on the occasion of Gahma Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
The CM said, “Subhadra Yojana is not merely a financial assistance scheme but a symbol of women’s empowerment,” aimed at enabling women to take independent decisions and become socially, politically and economically self-reliant.
He said Rs 5,000 each is being transferred to 1,03,26,162 eligible women beneficiaries across Odisha under the fifth instalment, involving more than Rs 5,163 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).”
“With an annual allocation of Rs 11,000 crore, Subhadra is Odisha’s largest women-centric scheme. Beneficiaries will receive Rs 50,000 over five years, with two instalments of Rs 5,000 each every year.”
The CM Majhi said, “nearly 80% of women have used Subhadra assistance for long-term financial security and development, while 25.52% have used the funds to start businesses”. He highlighted beneficiaries who have started vegetable cultivation, tailoring, stationery shops, weaving and dairy farming.
Following the BJP’s election victory in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the flagship scheme on September 17, 2024.
Under the welfare initiative, eligible women received financial assistance of Rs 10,000 every year, split into two equal instalments of Rs 5,000 disbursed on Raksha Bandhan and International Women’s Day.
