Ambit of women-centric scheme widened; Move to cover approximately 20 lakh beneficiaries

ORUNODOI

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Under the proposed 'Orunodoi' scheme, the Assam government has decided to further widen its ambit. The groundwork for this women-centric scheme has already started. A monthly sum of Rs 830 will be transferred directly to the bank account of only one beneficiary in each household for the next five years.

Sources informed that the scheme will cover approximately 20 lakh beneficiaries. According to an earlier notification of the Finance department dated August 14, 2020, the number of beneficiaries per LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency) was 15,000. And, if the number of electorates in any LAC is more than 2 lakhs then the beneficiaries were 17,000.

However, the latest notification has increased the slabs as follows: While the beneficiaries will be 15,000 in LACs where the number of electorates is below 1.5 lakh; the beneficiaries will be 16,000 in LACs having above 1.5 lakh but less than 2 lakh electorates.

Similarly, the beneficiaries will be 17,000 in LACs having electorates above 2 lakh but less than 2.5 lakh. The beneficiaries will be 18,000 in LACs having electorates above 2.5 lakh but less than 3 lakh;

Accordingly, the beneficiaries will be 19,000 in LACs having electorates above 3 lakh but less than 3.5 lakh; and the beneficiaries will be 20,000 in LACs having electorates above 3.5 lakh but less than 4 lakh

The new notification further says, "The Government of Assam through the 'Orunodoi' scheme guarantees to cater to the health and nutritional needs of poor families and relieve them from the distress of poverty. lt has been observed that many homeless, destitute, beggars, transgenders, families of inmates, among others may be living under immense socio-economic distress and may not be able to get themselves enrolled in the scheme."

To facilitate this, the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been given the discretion to select 500 such households living under socio-economic distress. The DCs will have to ensure that such beneficiaries are enrolled and also receive benefits under the scheme. This discretionary quota will be over and above the LAC-wise targets already fixed.

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