CM Majhi Disburses ₹315 Crore Under Subhadra Yojana to Over 4.57 Lakh Women

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday distributed benefits under the state’s flagship women-centric welfare scheme, Subhadra Yojana, to more than 4.57 lakh eligible beneficiaries, reaffirming the government’s focus on women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance.

The benefit distribution programme was held at Krushi Sikshya Sadan on the OUAT campus, where over ₹315 crore was transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The assistance covered women who had not received the first, second, or remaining third instalments under the scheme, along with newly registered beneficiaries for the 2025–26 financial year.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described Subhadra Yojana as the largest women-centric welfare initiative in post-independence Odisha, with an annual budget allocation of ₹11,000 crore. Under the scheme, more than one crore eligible women aged between 21 and 60 years receive ₹10,000 annually in two instalments for five years, amounting to ₹50,000 per beneficiary.

Calling the scheme a “shining example” of the government’s respect and commitment towards the mothers and sisters of Odisha, Majhi recalled that the Cabinet approved Subhadra Yojana on the very first day after the formation of the government. The first instalment was disbursed on September 17, 2024, following the formal launch of the scheme in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister informed that over ₹15,000 crore has already been disbursed to more than one crore beneficiaries across three instalments. He added that the two annual instalments are scheduled to be released every year on Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Purnima) and International Women’s Day.

Highlighting the broader impact of the scheme, Majhi said economic independence strengthens women’s self-confidence and decision-making power within families and society. He further noted that the scheme prioritises women from economically weaker sections, including rural areas, tribal communities, urban poor households, and other vulnerable groups.

Emphasising the government’s larger focus on women-centric development, the Chief Minister said a record ₹89,862 crore—nearly 30 per cent of the total state budget—has been earmarked exclusively for mothers and women in the current financial year.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the Subhadra Yojana has enabled women to take up entrepreneurial activities through self-effort, adding that dignity, self-reliance, and self-respect are key to building a developed Odisha.

During the programme, the Chief Minister felicitated five successful beneficiaries under the scheme and presented them with assistance cheques. Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Shubha Sharma, Director Monisha Banerjee, and other senior officials were also present.