Bhubaneswar: The Mohan government’s Subhadra Yojana is facing criticism for not fulfilling its initial promises. The BJP had pledged ₹50,000 to every woman, but the scheme now offers only ₹5,000. This reduction has led to debate and criticism from political leaders, including Naveen Patnaik.
Naveen Pattnaik accused the BJP of misleading voters. He pointed out that the scheme was expected to benefit around 2.25 crore women but now covers only 70 lakh. He criticized the assistance of ₹5,000, which is distributed in two payments per year, noting that this amounts to just ₹800 per month. He argued that this amount is too small to make a significant economic impact.
Additionally, the BJP government has borrowed ₹50,000 crore to fund the Subhadra Yojana and other schemes, increasing the state’s debt. Patnaik warned that this debt could have long-term effects and questioned whether the scheme will effectively empower women.
The Subhadra Yojana provides ₹5,000 to women aged 21 to 60, with payments made twice a year on Rakhi Purnima and International Women’s Day.