Patnaik Slams BJP for Partial Fulfilment of Subhadra Yojana in Odisha

Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik criticised the BJP government on Friday for not including all women of Odisha under the ‘Subhadra Yojana’ as promised during elections. Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Yojana, which provides financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually in two instalments to over one crore women in the state.

Patnaik's Criticism

Hours after the announcement, Patnaik expressed his discontent on X: "The BJP had given a ‘guarantee’ to give Rs 50,000 to each woman. They said Rs 50,000 during the election. But now they are paying only Rs 5,000. They said all women, and now only one in three women will get the benefits. Is this BJP’s guarantee to mothers?"

According to Patnaik, about 2.25 crore women out of the 4.5 crore population were expected to be involved in this scheme. However, the government stated that only 70 lakh women would benefit from it. The BJD president highlighted this discrepancy in his post written in Odia.

Financial Concerns

The former chief minister pointed out that mothers were hopeful of investing the assistance money in business or other work. He questioned how they could manage with just Rs 5,000 every six months, which amounts to Rs 800 a month. "The mothers were hopeful that they would be investing the assistance money in business or other work. However, only Rs 5,000 in 6 months… What will they do with such a meagre amount ie, Rs 800 a month?"

Patnaik also claimed that the BJP government borrowed Rs 50,000 crore to implement several guarantee schemes. This borrowing has raised concerns about the financial sustainability of these schemes.

The criticism from Patnaik comes at a time when the state government is under scrutiny for its handling of welfare schemes and financial management. The opposition's remarks have sparked discussions on social media and among political analysts about the effectiveness and reach of such schemes.

The Subhadra Yojana aims to provide financial support to women across Odisha, but its implementation has faced criticism for not meeting initial promises made by the BJP during elections. The reduction in promised amounts and limited beneficiary coverage have been key points of contention.

As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns and whether any adjustments will be made to ensure broader inclusion and adequate support for all intended beneficiaries.