TNI Bureau: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi disbursed the fourth instalment of financial assistance under the Subhadra Yojana at a state-level programme held in Puri on Saturday.

More than one crore women beneficiaries received financial support of ₹5,000 each, with the state government transferring over ₹5,106 crore directly to their bank accounts. In the fourth phase alone, 1,02,12,665 beneficiaries were covered under the scheme.

Among them, more than 4.20 lakh women from Puri district received the assistance.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that within just one and a half years the Subhadra Yojana has brought significant positive change in the lives of women across Odisha. He expressed confidence that more women would join the transformation journey in the coming years.

Majhi said the scheme has helped strengthen women economically and provided them with financial independence and a distinct identity. According to him, Subhadra Yojana has emerged as a major source of confidence and self-reliance for women in the state.

The Chief Minister highlighted several success stories, noting that women in districts such as Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Bhadrak and Cuttack have used the financial support to start small businesses including mushroom cultivation, poultry farming, bamboo trade and other livelihood activities.

During the event, Majhi also released the Subhadra Review Report prepared by Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur. As per the survey findings, 25.52 percent of beneficiaries used the financial assistance to start businesses, while 35.7 percent spent it on household needs. Many women have also used the funds for loan repayment, savings and skill development.

The Chief Minister said women will play a crucial role in building a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047. He added that around 17 lakh women in the state have already become “Lakhpati Didis,” and the government aims to create 60 lakh Lakhpati Didis and 10 lakh “Millionaire Didis” by 2047.

Majhi also announced several initiatives for women’s welfare, including schemes focused on education, health and financial empowerment. He reiterated that women’s empowerment is not merely a slogan for the government but a firm commitment.

During his speech, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the alleged disrespect shown to President Droupadi Murmu in West Bengal, saying that such behaviour was not only an insult to the President but also to the entire nation and women across the country.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled a coffee table book of the Women and Child Development Department and a booklet on the prevention of child marriage.

Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida extended greetings on International Women’s Day and said the Subhadra Yojana has become a major milestone in empowering women in Odisha. She noted that over ₹15,000 crore had already been distributed in the first three phases of the scheme.
Sambit Patra, Member of Parliament from Puri, praised the state government’s initiatives for women’s empowerment and said Odisha could emerge as a leading state in creating Lakhpati Didis in the country.

Several public representatives and officials, including local MLAs and senior officers of the Women and Child Development Department, were present at the event. District-level programmes were also organised across Odisha to mark the occasion.