GUWAHATI: The Assam government has announced the inclusion of approximately 7.3 lakh more individuals in its flagship poverty alleviation programme, Orunodoi, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 26 lakh.
“It may be noted that under Orunodoi 2.0, new beneficiaries numbering around 7.3 lakh will be added to the beneficiary list, taking the total number of beneficiaries under Orunodoi to 26 lakh,” read a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Wednesday.
The statement further specified that in Kokrajhar district alone, 21,000 new beneficiaries will be incorporated into the scheme.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who inaugurated the distribution of Orunodoi cards to the new beneficiaries during a programme held in Kokrajhar on Wednesday, stressed that his government is committed to include economically weaker sections in the direct benefit transfer programmes.
“Including weaker sections in the schemes of direct benefit transfer was a priority of the government. After coming to power, my government fulfilled its promise of bringing less privileged women under the ambit of Orunodoi,” he told the press.
Sarma also announced that around 26 lakh women in Assam will now receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,250, with the amount directly credited to their bank accounts on the 10th day of each month.
Sarma also revealed the government’s plans to expand the Orunodoi programme further, with an additional five lakh beneficiaries expected to be added in the coming days. This expansion is set to make the scheme the largest-ever direct fund transfer scheme in the state.
The Orunodoi scheme was initially launched on December 1, 2020, and its second edition was announced on December 14 of the following year.
