TV
Turning the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan into a celebration of women’s empowerment, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday released the third instalment of the Subhadra Yojana.
More than 1.24 crore women beneficiaries across the state received Rs 5,000 each directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with the total disbursal amount running into thousands of crores.
The public event in Jeypore, Koraput district, saw the Chief Minister personally hand over symbolic cheques to select beneficiaries, while thousands more had funds credited to their accounts simultaneously.
Special focus on previously excluded beneficiaries
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida had announced that the 246 beneficiaries who had been left out earlier would be given all three instalments at once, amounting to Rs 15,000 each.
Parida, who has been touring Kotia since Friday to personally review the disbursal process, said the government is committed to ensuring “no eligible woman is left behind, whether she lives in the heart of Bhubaneswar or on the remote borders of Kotia.”
Beneficiaries who had not received any payment since the scheme’s launch were also paid all three tranches in one go, providing immediate and substantial relief.
Eligibility norms clarified to avoid misuse
Deputy CM Parida had earlier last month outlined the income and asset-based eligibility criteria for Subhadra Yojana. Women with annual incomes under Rs 2.5 lakh and zero income tax liability will qualify, while those earning above the limit, owning more than five acres of land, or having recently purchased vehicles will be excluded.
“There were around two lakh cases where beneficiaries who had earlier received instalments were later found ineligible under these norms. They will be reassessed, but the focus remains on genuine beneficiaries,” Parida said.
Portal reopening and new applications after August 9
To expand coverage, the government will reopen the Subhadra Yojana online portal after August 9. Women aged 21 and above who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to apply.
Additionally, a fresh door-to-door survey will be carried out in regions like Kotia to ensure that all eligible women are included, especially those in remote areas with limited internet access.
