Ambitious ‘Subhadra Yojana’ falters in tribal hinterland Malkangiri

More than 50 per cent of tribal women applicants still await the promised benefits of the ‘Subhadra’ scheme in the Malkangiri district. However, the assistance has already been transferred to the bank accounts of at least 80,35,000 beneficiaries across Odisha, in three phases.

According to sources, the scheme's progress remains slow and patchy in the remote Bonda Ghati region of Malkangiri. Reports indicate that over half of the 1,522 applicants in this remote area claim to have not received any assistance money.

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The issues primarily revolve around the difficult terrain and limited infrastructure in regions like Bandhaguda and Mudulipada panchayats. Women such as Sambhari Badanayak and Sukri Sisa eagerly look forward to receiving the funds intended for improving their homes or launching any small business enterprises. Despite the commencement of official distribution, these women find their bank accounts devoid of funds.

In Bonda Ghati, a region comprising 31 villages across two panchayats, there are significant delays impacting the Subhadra scheme. Out of 1,522 women who applied for the scheme, only 515 applicants have received funds in their accounts by the end of the second phase. These applicants are from Mudulipada panchayat, which has 748 applicants, and Andrahal panchayat, with 774 applicants.

The delays have been attributed to complications with e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) processes and Aadhaar, India's biometric identification system. The discrepancies between Aadhaar data, bank records and problems with mobile number verification preventing OTP (One-Time Password) service have been common stumbling blocks.

In the secluded region of Bonda Ghati, dedicated workers from the Department of Child Development are undertaking a drive to bring marginalised women into the fold of the government scheme. These individuals methodically visit each home to identify women inadvertently omitted from official records.

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The local Block Development Office (BDO) has assured efforts are underway to resolve these issues. The Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development Minister Pravati Parida reiterated that efforts are on to focus on ensuring no eligible woman in Bondha Ghati is left without the financial assistance envisioned in the ‘Subhadra’ scheme.

When contacted, an applicant tribal woman Sukri Sisa rued saying, “Several others have received their payments twice, but I have not got anything yet. I had planned to repair my dilapidated house and provide schooling to my children.”

“No money has come to my account, while many others have got two to three times,” another elderly tribal woman Sambhari Badanayak expressed.