GUWAHATI: The Chief Minister of Assam has launched the Orunodoi 2.0 scheme virtually at an event in New Delhi on December 14. Announcing the key points of the upgraded scheme, Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned that it will provide further economic security to the women of the state.
The Orunodoi Scheme was created by the state government to empower the economically backward families of the state. The key point of the project was that the money from the government was to be deposited in the bank account of the woman of the family. This gave her full control of the finances of the family and key decision-making.
While launching the Orunodoi 2.0, the Assam chief minister announced that the state administration is working towards reaching 3500000 beneficiaries of this scheme. This will see the removal of 275000 existing beneficiaries for various reasons and add 1058000 new beneficiaries. An increase in the monthly stipend amount has also been announced recently. And this scheme will incur a total cost of Rs 4142 Cr to the state government.
The upgraded version of the scheme also takes into account aged men and specially-abled citizens and members of the Third gender of the state. As per the new rules, old men who are accommodated in the old age home can also be brought under Orunodoi 2.0, subject to the decision by the local DC and the guardian minister of the district. The necessary amount for these beneficiaries will be released from a special fund issued to each of the DCs.
Families with patients suffering from a few notified illnesses will also be brought under the umbrella of Orunodoi 2.0. Cerebral Palsy, Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Leprosy are some of the diseases on this list. The economic criteria have been weaved for this category of beneficiaries. Exceptions to this rule are government service holders and political representatives.
The state government also plans to bring the beneficiaries of the Assam Deen Dayal Divyangjan Sahajya Scheme and the Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme will be absorbed into the Orunodoi 2.0 Scheme.
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