The Assam government is considering introducing an emergency advance facility of up to Rs 10,000 for beneficiaries of its flagship Orunodoi scheme to help women meet urgent financial requirements during emergencies, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Speaking at a programme, Sarma said the proposed advance would be recoverable through small monthly deductions from future Orunodoi payments. He said the government was examining the proposal as part of its efforts to strengthen the financial security provided under the welfare scheme.
The chief minister said financial assistance under Orunodoi was currently being disbursed to around 37 lakh women, with beneficiaries receiving Rs 9,000 from April onwards. He described the scheme as one of the state government’s key priorities during the current financial year.
Sarma also said the government was linking Orunodoi benefits with Aadhaar and ensuring beneficiaries’ bank accounts were Aadhaar-seeded to prevent fraudulent claims and guarantee that assistance reached genuine recipients.
He noted that nearly 17,000 beneficiaries could experience temporary delays in receiving payments because of the Aadhaar-linking process but assured that steps were being taken to complete the exercise and release the benefits without delay.
Meanwhile, Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced that Orunodoi beneficiaries affected by the recent floods would receive an additional financial assistance of Rs 2,500.
He also said around 36 lakh women enrolled under the scheme would contribute Rs 150 each towards flood relief efforts.
The government has further assigned specific responsibilities to Orunodoi Sarathis, with one Sarathi designated for every locality to assist beneficiaries and resolve issues related to the implementation of the scheme.
