Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched SUBHADRA, the flagship scheme of the Government of Odisha, during an event in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, which also happens to be his 74th birthday. This initiative aims to benefit over 1 crore women in Odisha, making it the largest women-centric scheme in the nation and marking a significant step towards women’s empowerment in the state. On this historic occasion, the Prime Minister initiated the fund transfer into the bank accounts of more than 10 lakh women.
Under the SUBHADRA scheme, all eligible beneficiaries between the age of 21-60 years would receive Rs. 50,000/- over a period of 5 years between 2024-25 to 2028-29. An amount of Rs 10,000/- per annum in two equal instalments will be credited directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled bank account. This groundbreaking initiative is also tied to a pilot project involving the Reserve Bank of India’s digital currency, marking a pioneering step in financial inclusivity.
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Odisha and invoked Lord Jagannath’s blessings. He emphasised the government’s commitment to providing pucca houses to over 30 lakh families nationwide, with 26 lakh homes distributed in rural areas and 4 lakh in urban settings.
The Prime Minister encouraged the state government to engage in extensive outreach to ensure every woman in Odisha is informed about the benefits of the SUBHADRA scheme. He praised local administration, MLAs, and party workers’ collective efforts to raise awareness and ensure the scheme reaches its intended beneficiaries.
As a celebration of the initiative’s launch, PM Modi expressed his commitment to continue serving the people of Odisha, reaffirming that the government would remain dedicated to resolving their issues and enhancing their quality of life.
PM Modi also laid the foundation stones for various infrastructure projects, including railway ventures worth over ₹2,800 crore and national highway projects exceeding ₹1,000 crore, further promoting development in the region.
In addition, PM Modi released the first instalment of assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries across 14 states. He participated in the Grih Pravesh celebrations for 26 lakh PMAY beneficiaries, symbolically handing over house keys to both rural and urban recipients.