Bhubaneswar, Oct 23
In response to growing concerns among women who have not yet received financial assistance, the Odisha Cabinet has approved minor amendments to the Subhadra Yojana guidelines. This move aims to speed up the selection process for beneficiaries and make it more transparent.
During a meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet agreed to allow exceptions to certain criteria for applicants listed in the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and State Food Security Scheme databases. This decision follows a temporary pause in the use of Aadhaar for verification, allowing the government to use alternative databases for beneficiary checks.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reported that over one crore people have registered for the scheme, with more than 60 lakh applications approved. However, around 2.68 lakh applications were rejected for being ineligible. Many women whose applications were denied have requested a review, and the government is committed to ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is overlooked.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the inclusion of Central Bank Digital Currency as a method for financial assistance under the Subhadra Yojana. Due to low usage of debit cards, the decision was also made to eliminate the issuance of debit cards, favoring more popular payment methods like UPI and Aadhaar-based transactions.
To enhance transparency, the Cabinet proposed adding two representatives from civil society to local scrutiny committees that evaluate applications for the scheme.
In other decisions, the Cabinet approved six significant proposals, including the launch of the ‘Samrudhi Krushak Yojana’ to boost farmers’ income, where registered farmers selling paddy will receive Rs 3,100 per quintal, which includes assistance for inputs and the minimum support price.
The Cabinet also amended the Odisha GST Act, 2017, in line with recommendations from the GST Council and appointed Arun Kumar Sarangi as the Chairman of the Odisha Public Service Commission.
These steps reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to support its citizens and improve the efficiency of welfare programs in the state.