Guwahati (Assam) [India], September 19 (ANI): In an attempt towards intensifying women empowerment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched the Orunodoi 3.0 scheme across the state at a function held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.
It may be noted that under the scheme, altogether 37.2 lakh beneficiaries would benefit.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Sarma, in a bid to extend NFSA benefits, kicked off the distribution process of ration cards to 19,92,167 beneficiaries who will be eligible to avail free food grains every month.
In this scheme, the government will be spending over Rs 440 cr per month. The NFSA cards will also entail free treatment under Ayushman Bharat.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma said, “Today, we have taken a massive step towards strengthening Nari Shakti in Assam. I joined my mothers and sisters from 126 assembly constituencies to kickstart Orunodoi 3.0, to include additional beneficiaries and ensure more than 37 lakh families to receive Rs. 1250 every month in state.”
“In Orunodoi 3.0, we will be prioritising destitute women, divyangs, widows, transgenders, and other vulnerable people to provide them with financial security. Families with income below Rs. 2 lakh are eligible to apply and the state government will be spending Rs. 467 crore per month on this scheme. Together with NFSA, Orunodoi 3.0 will form a comprehensive social security net that will cover their nutritional, financial, medical and ancillary needs. This scheme was a part of the promise to the people of the state on the eve of the Lok Sabha election, as the Chief Minister expressed his happiness to have been in a position to fulfil the promise within 100 days of the election,” Sarma added.
Sarma said while he was the Finance Minister of the state, during the budget speech of 2020-21, the scheme Orunodoi was envisaged and designed to lend self-sufficiency, confidence, and self-reliance to the people of the state.
He said that after the unprecedented success of Orunodoi 1.0 and 2.0 which touched the lives of around 24.60 lakh people, the addition of more than 12 lakh beneficiaries would really spell wonder to the lives of the people of the state.
Highlighting the fundamental changes the scheme has brought about in the lives of the people, the Chief Minister said that the government’s intervention with the help of financial benefits have helped the people to meet the crisis stemmed from the unprecedented COVID pandemic and others.
“Though in the initial stages, beneficiaries were entitled to Rs. 830, at present the financial benefit was raised to Rs. 1250 per month,” the Chief Minister added. Chief Minister Sarma stated that a survey during the recent Lok Sabha elections identified 10 lakh families that have yet to benefit from the Orunodoi scheme.
“It also brought to light which families required life insurance for their heads of households, and the expected number of beneficiaries under the Nijut Moina scheme. Under Orunodoi 3.0, an estimated 12,60,000 families state-wide would receive assistance, with an average of 10,000 families benefiting in each constituency. To qualify, previous beneficiaries of Orunodoi 1.0 and 2.0 must reapply, and only those with a ration card would be eligible. The state government plans to integrate the Orunodoi scheme with the ration card system, issuing new ration cards to 19,92,167 families. Currently, 2,31,97,608 beneficiaries receive benefits under the National Food Security Act, and this number is expected to increase to around 2 crore 60 lakhs after the new ration cards are distributed,” the Assam Chief Minister said.
The CM stated that current and former MPs, MLAs, as well as members of Panchayati Raj institutions, urban local bodies, and autonomous councils, along with government employees, pensioners, professionals, Anganwadi workers, and ASHA workers, would not qualify for Orunodoi.
Additionally, those with four-wheeled vehicles or more than 15 bighas of land would also be excluded, emphasising the scheme’s aim to support the poor and marginalised in both rural and urban areas.
He announced that with the launch of Orunodoi 3.0, the implementation process is proposed to be completed by January 2025, while existing beneficiaries of Orunodoi 1.0 and 2.0 would continue to receive their benefits without interruption.
Sarma said that the Orunodoi scheme would require an annual budget of Rs 5,604 crore, about Rs 467 crore monthly, marking a historic DBT initiative for the state.
“This scheme has also inspired women’s empowerment programmes in other states, such as the Ladli Behna scheme in Madhya Pradesh, the Mahtari Vandana Yojana in Chhattisgarh, and the Gruha Jyothi scheme in Karnataka. Issuing new ration cards would cost the state Rs 441 crore each month, with cardholders entitled to 5 kilogrammes of free rice monthly,” the CM said.
The CM emphasised that direct assistance through the Orunodoi scheme, the Ayushman Card, and the Ration Card initiative has helped 80 lakh families in Assam to rise out of poverty.
Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, along with other dignitaries and senior officials were also present. (ANI)
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