Odisha government to fund weddings of poor girls, launch Subhadra Plus: CM Mohan Majhi

The Odisha government will soon launch the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana to fund weddings of girls from low-income families, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Tuesday.

The initiative, aimed at easing financial burdens on poor households, will organize mass weddings covered entirely by the state, including gifts for brides. A budget of ₹12 crore has been allocated for the scheme in 2025-26.

Majhi unveiled the plan during the inauguration of the nine-day Subhadra Shakti Mela at Bhubaneswar’s Janata Maidan, emphasizing that funding “will not hinder implementation.” The program mirrors similar efforts in Madhya Pradesh, focusing on families struggling with marriage costs.

Subhadra Plus: Expanding Women-Centric Initiatives

In another major step, the government will expand its flagship Subhadra Yojana into Subhadra Plus, an umbrella scheme targeting holistic welfare for women and girls.

Key components include Kishori Subhadra (adolescent support), Subhadra Surakhya (women’s safety), Subhadra Sakhi (community networks), and Subhadra Scholars (education). A Rs 153 crore budget has been earmarked for safety initiatives alone, with Rs 10,145 crore allocated to the broader Subhadra Yojana.

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Boosting SHGs and Nutrition Programs

The state has doubled revolving funds for 5.80 lakh women self-help groups (SHGs) to Rs 30,000 each, while community investment funds for gram panchayat-level federations have risen from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. Additionally, Rs 300 crore will be provided as interest subsidies to over 3 lakh SHGs in 2024-25.

Rs 526 crore has also been set aside for the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pusti Yojana with a new Rs 100 crore Odisha Pusti Mission will streamline food support.

ALSO READ: Mission Shakti to be renamed as ‘Subhadra Shakti’!

Subhadra Mela Highlights

Over 700 SHGs are showcasing handicrafts, organic products, and terracotta items at 300 stalls in the ongoing Subhadra Mela, a key platform for women artisans with a focus on empowering them through economic and social initiatives at the fair.