In a landmark event in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Subhadra Yojana scheme for women, a flagship initiative of Odisha’s first BJP government. The programme attended by a massive gathering at Janta Maidan in the capital city coincided with Modi’s 74th birthday and his third term government’s 100th day.
The scheme, aimed at the economic empowerment of women as per the government’s claim, marks a significant milestone in the state’s social welfare programmes. Over one crore women within the age group of 21 to 60 will get Rs 10,000 within a year in two equal installments under Subhadra Yojana. It is a five year programme during which each beneficiary will get Rs 50,000 in total.
By launching the scheme, the prime minister fulfilled a key electoral promise of the party made before 2024 elections.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida announced that an impressive 72 lakh women have already applied for the scheme. “This initiative is a testament to our commitment to women’s empowerment and financial independence,” she said.
Prime Minister Modi, addressing the gathering, emphasized the transformative potential of the scheme. “Subhadra Yojana is not just a financial aid programme; it’s a step towards ensuring that every woman in Odisha can achieve her dreams and aspirations,” he said.
The prime minister transferred the first installment of Rs 5,000 to the accounts of 25 lakh women in the scheme through technical device. Starting his speech with a prayer to mother Goddess Subhadra of Puri Srimandir temple, Modi said the double-engine government will push Odisha to a new pinnacle. He said, during the election the BJP had promised to open all four doors of Puri temple and open the Ratna Bhandar and the same has now been fulfilled.
Modi launched rail projects worth Rs 2,800 crore besides national highway projects of Rs 1000 crore. Before the programme, Modi inaugurated the homes of PMAY-Urban beneficiaries at Sabar Sahi slum in Gadkana, a part of the city. There he relished the local delicacy ‘kheeri’ during the ‘Gruha Pravesh’ ceremony of one beneficiary. Later in his speech, he reminisced his mother who was serving him this delicacy. Though his mother is no more, a tribal sister has fed him this item with affection and blessings on the occasion of his birthday, Modi said.
PM said in the meeting that “today 30 lakh beneficiaries in the country have been given pucca houses out of whom 26 lakh live in villages and rest are in towns”. In addition to this, 10 lakh rural beneficiaries have received the first installment in PM Awas Yojana.
For 15 lakh houses acceptance letters were also given. Modi also launched Awas + 2024 App.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Odisha will observe its formation anniversary in 2036 and by that year its GSDP will be 500 billion dollars and by 2047 when India will celebrate centenary of its independence, Odisha economy will touch 1.5 trillion dollars. The programme was attended by union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Juel Oram and Annapurna Devi and other dignitaries.