'Orunudoi' scheme to launch today in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Women empowerment in the State is set to enter the pragmatic phase when the 'Orunudoi' scheme will be launched on Tuesday.

The scheme is aimed at benefitting 22 lakh women, mostly widows, divorcees and others. The scheme will cost the State exchequer Rs 200 crore per month.

Talking to the media here on Monday, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Tomorrow is a big day for Assam. Such a massive scheme has never been launched anywhere in the country. After the launch of the 'Orunudoi' scheme, around 17.60 lakh beneficiaries of the State will get Rs 830 per month to be transferred to their accounts under the DBT (Direct Beneficiary Transfer) system. The scheme won't be launched in the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) on Tuesday because of the model code of conduct currently in force there. However, the scheme will also be launched in the BTR also after the poll, taking the number of total beneficiaries to 22 lakh.

"The aim of this scheme is empowering women. It is going to benefit widows, divorcees, divyangs and other women. The amount will be deposited in the account of the woman member of the family. The scheme will be reviewed in a month every year. Such reviews of the scheme may include new names or exclude the wrongly included ones, if any.

"In order to address the grievances of the beneficiaries, Orunudoi call centres will also be set up in the State. Since the scheme will be effective from November, the beneficiaries will get the amounts of both November and December, in December."

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