Assam Launches Orunodoi 3.0: A New Era of Financial Empowerment for Women
Introduction of Orunodoi 3.0
Assam Chief Minister Sarma at the Orunodoi 3.0 DBT event in Khanapara, Guwahati, on Saturday. (Photo: @CMOfficeAssam/X)
Guwahati, Aug 1: The Assam government has relaunched its flagship Orunodoi scheme with the introduction of Orunodoi 3.0. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented a range of new initiatives designed to transform the monthly welfare assistance into a robust financial safety net for women.
New Features of the Scheme
During the launch at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Sarma revealed that beneficiaries will soon have the ability to access their future Orunodoi assistance in advance or utilize their annual entitlement to secure bank loans.
He explained, "If a woman finds herself in urgent need of Rs 2,000 or Rs 10,000, she should be able to withdraw that amount from her future Orunodoi entitlement without incurring any interest. This amount can then be gradually adjusted from her monthly assistance."
The Chief Minister mentioned that the government is developing a system that would allow beneficiaries to access up to Rs 15,000 interest-free in advance, with repayments made over time from future monthly payments.
Additionally, beneficiaries will have the option to secure bank loans by using their future Orunodoi entitlement as collateral, with repayments automatically deducted from their monthly assistance.
"For those who prefer bank loans, we will coordinate with banks to ensure that loan repayments are directly deducted from the monthly Orunodoi assistance. Our goal is to elevate Orunodoi from merely a financial aid program to a tool for financial empowerment," he stated.
Expansion and Verification Measures
Sarma also announced plans to broaden the scheme by increasing both the number of beneficiaries and the monthly assistance amount, which is currently set at Rs 1,250.
The new phase will implement Aadhaar-based verification to guarantee that benefits reach the intended recipients and to resolve issues related to incorrect bank account details, duplicate accounts, or shared accounts within families.
He noted, "We have encountered cases where women did not receive their funds due to banking issues or because incorrect account details were provided. Linking bank accounts with Aadhaar will enhance transparency and ensure that funds reach the rightful beneficiaries."
While acknowledging that some beneficiaries may experience temporary delays in receiving their current installment due to ongoing Aadhaar linking, he assured that the matter would be addressed promptly.
To facilitate better implementation, the government will appoint Orunodoi Sarathis in each Assembly constituency to assist beneficiaries with enrollment, Aadhaar linkage, grievance resolution, and other related services.
Special Assistance Amid Floods
In light of the severe floods affecting Upper Assam, the Chief Minister announced an additional Rs 2,500 as special assistance for Orunodoi beneficiaries in the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Jorhat.
He commended beneficiaries for their voluntary contributions of Rs 150 each towards flood relief, describing this act as a testament to the scheme's humanitarian ethos.
The launch of Orunodoi 3.0 marks the first significant implementation of the 2026-27 Assam Budget following its approval by the Governor, with over 37 lakh women receiving monthly assistance on the launch day.
"Some suggested that we pause Orunodoi for a month to allocate the funds for flood relief, but we are capable of supporting both initiatives. Orunodoi has evolved beyond a mere welfare scheme; it now symbolizes humanity and dignity for millions of women," Sarma concluded.