Nearly 4 Lakh Women Excluded from Subhadra Yojana’s Third Installment: MLA Raises Alarm, Govt Responds

Bhubaneswar: The third instalment of Odisha’s flagship women’s welfare scheme, Subhadra Yojana, has stirred controversy after nearly 4 lakh beneficiaries were excluded from receiving the Rs 5,000 payout.

The issue was raised in the Assembly by MLA Ganeshwar Behera, prompting a detailed response from Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.

According to official figures, 3,99,352 women were excluded from the third installment, compared to 1,83,785 in the second. While 1.28 crore women received the first instalment and 1.96 crore the second, only 96.96 lakh beneficiaries received the third.

A total of 1.98 crore applications were submitted under the scheme.

The exclusions were attributed to income thresholds, vehicle or land ownership, and discrepancies in ration card data.

Deputy CM Parida assured that a field-level verification is underway to reassess eligibility and that findings will be submitted to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for further action.

Launched in 2024, Subhadra Yojana aims to empower women aged 21–60 by providing Rs 50,000 over five years in biannual instalments.

The scheme remains a cornerstone of Odisha’s welfare strategy, though the recent exclusions have raised questions about its implementation and transparency.