The Assam government unveiled the third edition of its flagship poverty alleviation scheme, 'Orunodoi 3.0', on Thursday, significantly expanding its reach to cover 37.2 lakh beneficiaries through direct cash transfers. With a budget of ₹5,604 crore, 'Orunodoi 3.0' adds over 12.5 lakh new beneficiaries compared to the previous edition, making it the largest state-run Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative in Assam's history.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the distribution of Orunodoi Cards to new beneficiaries during a program in Guwahati. Designed to empower women from low-income families, the scheme will deposit ₹1,250 directly into their bank accounts on the 10th of each month.
Speaking at the launch, Sarma reflected on the initial assessment phase conducted during the Lok Sabha election campaign, which involved distributing forms to gauge inclusion in various schemes. "There was a lot of criticism for that, but we just wanted to know who was left out," he stated.
About 10 lakh people filled out the forms, leading the government to include approximately 10,000 new beneficiaries from each of Assam's 126 assembly constituencies.
To implement 'Orunodoi 3.0', the government anticipates a monthly expenditure of ₹467 crore, totaling ₹5,604 crore annually. "In independent Assam, such a large-scale scheme has never been implemented," Sarma noted.
Existing beneficiaries will need to reapply to continue receiving benefits, a measure intended to help identify individuals who may no longer be eligible. Eligibility criteria include a family income of less than ₹4 lakh per year, no government employment, and possession of a ration card.
Applicants must also be permanent residents of Assam with a valid Aadhaar-seeded ration card.
Sarma added that nearly 20 lakh new ration cards have been issued, ensuring that about 2.6 crore residents in the state now have access to ration cards, leaving very few from low-income families unaccounted for.
An official statement emphasised the necessity of updating information and enhancing the scheme's standards, leading to the decision to phase out 'Orunodoi 1.0' and 'Orunodoi 2.0' without transferring legacy data.
While selecting beneficiaries for 'Orunodoi 3.0', the district administration will ensure that eligible individuals from previous editions are not removed unless they fail to meet the new guidelines.
Originally launched on December 1, 2020, 'Orunodoi' was expanded to its second edition on December 14, 2022. Sarma claimed that the scheme has garnered praise from other states, with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra implementing similar initiatives under different names.
(PTI inputs)
