Bhubaneswar: Describing Subhadra Yojana as the biggest public welfare initiative in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asserted that his government fulfilled its pre-election promise within 100 days.
Speaking at the inauguration of Subhadra Yojana, a scheme focused on empowering women, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Majhi highlighted that in Jagannath culture, Maa Subhadra symbolizes strength and equality. He quoted, “If the mother is educated, the country will progress,” adding that similarly, when a woman becomes economically independent, the social and financial security of the family improves.
The Chief Minister noted that the Odisha government has introduced this revolutionary scheme to make women financially independent and to provide opportunities for economic advancement.
Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for launching ‘Subhadra,’ Majhi remarked on Modi’s devotion to his mother, which inspired the innovative ‘Ujwala’ scheme. “The Prime Minister, after assuming office, understood the pain and struggles of mothers, which led to the ambitious Ujwala Yojana, aimed at providing LPG connections to poor women across India,” he said. He added that the scheme has become one of the largest welfare programs globally, benefiting 53.20 lakh women in Odisha and 10.35 crore women nationwide.
Subhadra Yojana will directly transfer funds to the bank accounts of Odisha’s women beneficiaries, which they can utilize as per their needs—whether for small businesses, home enterprises, or children’s education, Majhi explained.
“There is great enthusiasm among women for this scheme, which is very encouraging for us,” Majhi added. He emphasized that Subhadra Yojana will particularly benefit women who have entrepreneurial ambitions but lack the necessary capital to start their ventures. The scheme will help them realize their dreams of financial independence.
Majhi concluded by saying that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Odisha is on a journey toward becoming a developed state. He emphasized that Subhadra Yojana will play a pivotal role in helping Odisha achieve its goal of becoming a leading state in India by 2036.
He also projected that Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) would reach $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047.
Majhi highlighted that Prime Minister Modi has consistently shown a deep commitment to Odisha’s development, affirming that the state will be a driving force in the growth of eastern India. He expressed confidence that Odisha will meet its development targets and become a vital engine for the country’s overall progress.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the portfolios of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, and Tourism, announced that 72 lakh women have registered under Subhadra Yojana so far. She referred to Subhadra Yojana as Prime Minister Modi’s guarantee for the development of women in Odisha, stating that it would be a foundation stone for a developed Odisha.
The event was attended by several key dignitaries, including Governor Raghubar Das, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Women & Child Development Annapurna Devi, and Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, among others.
