Up to 40 thousand families in the state will receive it before the Assam Assembly elections ₹9,000 under the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s office claimed that Orunodoi was not linked to the upcoming polls as it was meant only for women who met specific criteria.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, “A historic step to empower women-headed households in Assam. Reiterating the same, Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. ₹9,000 each to 40 thousand families of Orunodoi beneficiaries through direct benefit transfer, which will further enhance the financial security and dignity of women across the state.
The CMO said women from across the state participated in the central event virtually and networked through more than 3,800 public programs organized in Gaon Panchayats, Autonomous Council constituencies, Village Development Committees and Urban Ward Committees.
What is Orunodoi?
Orunodoi is the BJP-led state government’s flagship poverty alleviation program launched in 2020 under which one eligible woman per family will receive ₹1250 per month.
The Assam Chief Minister also added that all outstanding payments for the four months of this year along with Bohag Bihu celebration will be paid together so that the total amount will be ₹9,000.
Himanta Sarma said about this scheme, “Unlike other states, there is no mass transfer of benefits in this system. The transfer is limited to a certain category of women, it is a controlled system and not linked to elections.”
Sarma argued that if it was linked to elections, the coverage would be universal. “We give to Orunodoi with great compassion. We have been doing it for six years,” he claimed.
“We are winning elections because of (PM) Narendra Modi ji and BJP, not because of schemes. These are ongoing schemes. Maybe Congress (ruling states) also have similar ones,” the chief minister added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit poll-bound Assam on March 13 and 14 to attend a number of government programs in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, party sources said.
According to sources, the visit comes ahead of a major youth initiative planned by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which will see Union Home Minister Amit Shah address a massive youth conference in Guwahati on March 15. Party sources said around one lakh youth from across the state are expected to participate in the event.
