The Odisha Government has announced that the second installment of Rs 5,000 under the Subhadra Yojana will be distributed on March 8, 2025—International Women’s Day. This follows the first installment’s fourth phase, which was paid on February 8, 2025, benefiting more than 18 lakh women.
Transparent Payment System
The payments are made through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This ensures that the funds are directly credited into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries, making the process transparent and efficient.
Who Can Benefit?
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a resident of Odisha.
- Be between 21 and 60 years of age.
- Have a family income of Rs 2.5 lakh or less.
- Be covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Exclusions
Certain categories are not eligible for the scheme:
- Government employees.
- Income taxpayers.
- Families that own less than five acres of irrigated land or less than 10 acres of non-irrigated land.
- Women who receive Rs 1,500 per month or Rs 18,000 per year from other government schemes.
How to Apply
Applicants need to submit their forms through local Anganwadi centers or Common Service Centers (CSCs). Key steps in the application process include:
- Providing Aadhaar-linked bank account details.
- Undergoing mandatory e-KYC verification using facial authentication via the Subhadra Portal and Mobile App.
- Submitting necessary documents such as the Aadhaar card and proof of residence.
Common reasons for rejection include mismatches between Aadhaar details and bank account information, or incomplete forms.
Registration Deadline
The Odisha Cabinet has set March 31, 2025, as the deadline for registration under Subhadra Yojana for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Empowering Women Financially
The Subhadra Yojana aims to provide a total of Rs 50,000 in financial assistance over five years—disbursed as Rs 10,000 per year in two installments. As of December 2024, the scheme had received over 1 crore applications. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has also emphasized that efforts are underway to include beneficiaries who were previously rejected.
Promoting Digital Transactions and Financial Literacy
Beneficiaries receive Subhadra Debit Cards that enable them to withdraw money and perform digital transactions. Additionally, the scheme offers an annual incentive of Rs 500 to the top 100 users per gram panchayat and urban area for their digital transactions. This initiative supports the government’s broader goals of financial inclusion and the expansion of digital payments in India.
