Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday distributed benefits under the state’s flagship women-centric welfare programme, Subhadra Yojana, to more than 4.57 lakh eligible beneficiaries, reaffirming the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance.
The benefit distribution programme was held at Krushi Sikshya Sadan on the OUAT campus, where assistance amounting to over ₹315 crore was transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
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 financial year 2025–26.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi 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, over one crore eligible women aged between 21 and 60 years are entitled to receive ₹10,000 annually in two instalments for five years, amounting to ₹50,000 per beneficiary.
Calling Subhadra a “shining example” of the government’s respect and commitment towards the mothers and sisters of Odisha, the Chief Minister recalled that the Cabinet approved the scheme 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.
He informed that, so far, over ₹15,000 crore has been disbursed to more than one crore beneficiaries across three instalments. The two annual instalments are scheduled to be released every year on the occasions of Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Purnima) and International Women’s Day.
Highlighting the broader impact of the scheme, Majhi said economic independence brings self-confidence and strengthens a woman’s voice within the family and society. “When women have financial security, they can take decisions, plan for the future, and face challenges with courage. Subhadra Yojana is designed to instil that confidence,” he said.
The Chief Minister further noted that the scheme prioritises economically weaker sections, including women from rural areas, tribal communities, urban poor households, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring inclusive growth and social justice.
Emphasising the government’s larger focus on women-centric development, Majhi 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. The three instalments disbursed under Subhadra have already strengthened women’s economic foundation and accelerated their overall development, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, speaking on the occasion, said the Subhadra Yojana has demonstrated that women are capable of starting their own enterprises through self-effort. “With dignity, self-reliance and self-respect at the core, we can build a prosperous and developed Odisha,” she remarked.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also felicitated five successful Subhadra beneficiaries and presented them with assistance cheques.
Among those present were Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Shubha Sharma, and Director Monisha Banerjee, among other officials.
