Bhubaneswar: More than 1.03 crore women beneficiaries received Rs 5,000 each under the Subhadra yojana as CM Mohan Charan Majhi disbursed its fifth instalment on Friday. Altogether Rs 5,163 crore was transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.Addressing a gathering at Lathipada in Nayagarh district, the CM described the assistance as a Raksha Bandhan gift to women. “As the head of the govt, providing Subhadra assistance on Raksha Bandhan feels like fulfilling the duty of a brother,” Majhi said.The CM said Subhadra was not merely a cash transfer scheme but a vehicle for women’s empowerment. He stressed that real empowerment meant enabling women to become socially, economically and politically self-reliant and take decisions independently.Citing findings of studies conducted by IIM Sambalpur and State Bank of India, Majhi said around 80% of beneficiaries had used the assistance for long-term financial security, business activities and developmental purposes rather than routine household expenditure. He said more than 87% of women surveyed found the scheme highly beneficial.
