Finance
During a state-level program in Puri to distribute the fourth installment of the Subhadra Yojana on International Women’s Day, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the scheme’s growing impact, stating that 25% of beneficiaries have used the funds to start businesses and 35% have used them for household needs.
“Subhadra Yojana has not only empowered women financially but also instilled self-confidence and independence,” said CM Majhi while handing over Rs 5,000 each to 1.12 crore women beneficiaries across Odisha in the fourth phase of the scheme. The total disbursement under this phase amounts to Rs 5,106 crore, including 4,20,854 beneficiaries from Puri district.
The Chief Minister praised beneficiaries who have leveraged the Subhadra assistance to create opportunities in horticulture, poultry farming, bamboo businesses, and other small enterprises, calling them examples of success and resilience. “Women from districts like Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Bhadrak, and Cuttack are turning this support into sustainable livelihoods,” he added.
According to an IIM Sambalpur survey, 25.52% of beneficiaries used the funding to start businesses, while 35.7% used the help to pay for family needs. Many women have also used the money to repay loans, save, and enhance their abilities, gaining recognition and respect from their families.
CM Majhi stated that women will play a critical role in establishing a wealthy Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047. “Currently, the state has approximately 17 lakh Lakhpati Didis, and the government aims to create 6 million ‘Lakshapati Didis’ and 1 million ‘Millennium Didis’ by 2047,” he continued.
The Chief Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s welfare through schemes such as ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana’, ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana’, and ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana’, which support education, health, and economic empowerment.
During the occasion, CM Majhi released the Subhadra Review Report, a coffee table book from the Women and Child Development Department, and a brochure on child marriage prevention. He also decried the recent disrespect exhibited to the President in West Bengal, claiming that such actions weaken the office, the nation, and women’s dignity.
Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida welcomed the recipients, stating, “Thanks to Mother Subhadra, women in Odisha are emerging as a powerful force.” “The Subhadra Yojana has demonstrated women’s empowerment in action.” She recommended all 14-15-year-old girls in the state to get HPV vaccines.
Puri MP Sambit Patra praised Odisha’s unique achievements in women’s empowerment, particularly the formation of Lakhpati Didis, and hailed Chief Minister Majhi for the idea.
Brahmagiri MLA Upasna Mohapatra, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattanayak, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, and Monisha Banerjee, Director of the Women and Child Development Department, were also present. Ministers engaged in district-level programs throughout the state. Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, Commissioner and Administrative Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, made the welcoming address, while Puri District Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida proposed the vote of thanks.
