Explained: What's Odisha govt’s ‘Subhadra Yojana’ and how it will empower women

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (September 17) officially launched the Subhadra Yojana, a welfare scheme designed to provide financial support to women in Odisha.

The scheme will offer Rs 10,000 annually to eligible women between 21 and 60 years of age. Here's a detailed breakdown of how the scheme works, who can benefit, and its broader context.

Subhadra Yojana

The scheme takes its name from Goddess Subhadra, the younger sister of Lord Jagannath, the primary deity of Odisha. In the deeply revered triad of deities, Lord Jagannath is always depicted alongside Subhadra and their elder brother, Balabhadra, symbolising familial unity and devotion in the predominantly Hindu state.

Key features

Annual financial assistance: Rs 10,000 will be provided each year to eligible women.

Payment schedule: The money will be disbursed in two instalments—Rs 5,000 on Raksha Bandhan and Rs 5,000 on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Eligibility: Women aged 21 to 60 years who meet specific criteria will be eligible. However, women from wealthy households, government employees, income tax payers, and those already receiving Rs 18,000 or more annually from other government schemes will be excluded.

How it works

Direct bank transfer (DBT): The financial aid will be directly deposited into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked single-holder bank account, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Mandatory e-KYC: Beneficiaries will need to complete an e-KYC process to participate.

Subhadra debit card: Every woman in the program will receive a special debit card for accessing the funds.

Incentives for digital transactions: Women who make the most digital transactions will receive a bonus of Rs 500, encouraging financial literacy and inclusion.

Registration process

No deadline: Women can register anytime to benefit from the scheme, and the enrolment process is ongoing through banks, post offices, and common service centers across Odisha.

Mass participation: Over 50 lakh women have already registered for the scheme, and efforts are being made to ensure that all eligible women are included.

Funding and budget

Five-year budget: The state government has allocated Rs 55,825 crore to finance the scheme over five years, from 2024-29.

First-year allocation: For the financial year 2024-25, Rs 10,000 crore has been set aside to cover the initial phase of the program.

Political context

The Subhadra Yojana was a major promise in the BJP’s election campaign and played a big role in their recent victory in Odisha. It marks a strategic effort to counter the BJD’s long-standing Mission Shakti program, which played a critical role in the BJD’s dominance by supporting women’s self-help groups for years.

With this scheme, the BJP is directly targeting women voters, promising not just empowerment but tangible financial benefits. The Subhadra Yojana shows the growing importance of women’s welfare in political strategies and governance and aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of over 1 crore women in Odisha.