Finance
A high-level monitoring and review meeting of the Subhadra Yojana, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, was convened at Lok Seva Bhavan to assess implementation progress and develop the next phase of the flagship women’s welfare programme. The meeting brought together top officials from the Women and Child Development Department and other relevant departments to assess the scheme’s reach, impact, and operational efficiency.
Opening the assessment, Chief Secretary Ahuja praised the Women and Child Development Department for effectively implementing the Subhadra Yojana within 100 days of Cabinet approval and disbursing financial support in two timely installments using an integrated government system. He also underlined the significance of combining other social programs to assist Subhadra beneficiaries in achieving overall economic empowerment.
Women and Child Development Director Monisha Banerjee provided a thorough implementation update, stating that the project had received 1.09 crore applications so far. 1.02 crore women have received the first installment, while more than 1.0096 crore recipients have received the second installment. She also stated that roughly 5.82 lakh women were rejected due to 15 eligibility criteria, including four-wheeler ownership, higher family income, government work, and pension receipt.
Additionally, 93,792 women aged 60 and up were excluded from the third installment for fiscal year 2025-26. A proposal was made to connect these elderly beneficiaries with the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department for possible inclusion in alternative support programs.
The panel also discussed operational issues such as the facilitation of beneficiary data updates at local Sarpanch office helpdesks and continuing financial audits for the plan.
The “Subhadra Review” program, a collaboration between the Women and Child Development Department, the Higher Education Department, and IIM Sambalpur, sparked much discussion. Initial data show a promising trend: many recipients are investing their financial aid in entrepreneurial projects, which supports the scheme’s goal of promoting women’s self-reliance.
In terms of grievance redressal, the Subhadra portal has received over 3.51 lakh complaints, with 1.83 lakh addressed. According to Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma, the “Kuha Subhadra” women-led complaint resolution centers now receive over 20,000 answers each day, with rapid feedback and follow-up.
Chief Secretary Ahuja finished the session by underlining the government’s commitment to inclusive development and the Subhadra Yojana’s role in creating a self-sufficient Odisha by empowering women at the grassroots level.
