The State of Odisha has launched the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at the holistic empowerment and upliftment of women. This initiative underscores Odisha’s commitment to ensuring women’s welfare, addressing their socio-economic challenges, and enabling them to achieve financial independence. The scheme is specifically designed to improve the status, health, education, and overall quality of life of women while strengthening their position in society.
| Scheme | Subhadra Yojana |
| Type | Odisha Govt Schemes for Women |
| State | Odisha (OD) |
| Applicable | Odisha Women Resident |
| Benefits | ₹50,000 |
Objectives of Subhadra Yojana
Subhadra Yojana’s comprehensive approach is built around the following objectives:
| Financial Support: Empowering women financially through direct financial aid. | Rights Awareness: Increasing awareness about women’s rights. |
| Health and Education: Improving women’s health and educational outcomes. | Entrepreneurship and Financial Independence: Promoting entrepreneurship and skills development. |
| Digital Financial Literacy: Encouraging digital financial transactions. | Personal and Professional Growth: Providing tools and opportunities for professional and personal advancement. |
Key Benefits of Subhadra Yojana
The Subhadra Yojana offers numerous financial benefits and incentives:
| Subhadra Card: Every beneficiary receives a Subhadra Card, which functions as an ATM cum debit card, providing easy access to their benefits. | Annual Financial Support: Eligible beneficiaries receive a total of ₹50,000 over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29). This amount is disbursed in installments of ₹10,000 per year, divided into two biannual payments of ₹5,000. |
| Disbursement Timings: The first installment is released on Rakhi Purnima. The second installment is provided on International Women’s Day (8th March). | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Payments are made directly to the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked, DBT-enabled bank accounts. |
| Digital Transaction Incentive: To encourage digital transactions, a reward program grants ₹500 to the top 100 women in each Gram Panchayat (GP) or Urban Local Body (ULB) with the highest number of digital transactions within a financial year. |
Eligibility Criteria for Subhadra Yojana
To qualify for the scheme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
| Residency: The applicant must be a resident of Odisha. | Food Security Card: Must be covered under either the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). Women without these cards can also apply if their family income is under ₹2.5 lakh. |
| Age Requirement: The applicant’s age should be between 21 and 60 years as of the qualifying date. For the fiscal year 2024-25, eligible applicants must be born between 2nd July 1964 and 1st July 2003. Those turning 21 after 1st July 2024, or reaching 60 after this date, will receive benefits only for the remaining years. |
Ineligibility for Subhadra Yojana
Women falling under the following categories are ineligible for the scheme:
- Existing Financial Aid Recipients: Any woman receiving ₹1,500 or more per month, or ₹18,000 annually, from state or central schemes.
- Politicians and Public Representatives: Current or former MPs, MLAs, elected representatives, and high-ranking government officials.
- Income Tax Payers: Any income tax-paying woman or her family member.
- Vehicle Ownership: Ownership of a four-wheeler (excluding light goods vehicles).
- Land Ownership: Families owning more than 5 acres of irrigated or 10 acres of non-irrigated land.
Application Procedure for Subhadra Yojana
Eligible women can apply both online and offline:
Offline Application: Application forms are available free of cost at Anganwadi Centres, Block Offices, Urban Local Body Offices, Mo Seba Kendras, and Common Service Centres (CSCs). Applicants can fill out and submit their forms at these locations.
Online Application: Women may also apply online via the Subhadra Portal. Digital submission includes an e-KYC process, preferred through face authentication using the Aadhaar number.
Application Verification: All submitted applications will be verified against government records, and if required, field verification will be conducted. Any discrepancies between the form and Aadhaar details will defer to Aadhaar data.
Opting Out: Beneficiaries who wish to pass on the benefits to others can opt out of the scheme via the Subhadra Portal, supporting the empowerment of other eligible women in Odisha.
Subhadra Yojana exemplifies Odisha’s commitment to women’s empowerment through financial independence, digital literacy, and comprehensive welfare. This scheme will not only financially uplift women but also contribute to their socio-economic growth, making it a cornerstone of Odisha’s mission to enhance women’s empowerment and ensure inclusive development.