Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday announced a thorough verification of the beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana to weed out ineligible people and ensure that only eligible women receive the benefit of the scheme.
This move comes following complaints that several undeserving women had managed to get enrolled under the scheme while genuine beneficiaries were left out.
Officials said that the Women and Child Welfare Department has written to certain departments seeking fresh verification of records. A letter has been sent to the Transport Department seeking data on beneficiaries who own four-wheeler vehicles, as vehicle ownership is a key criterion for exclusion from the scheme.
The Health Department has been asked to share a detailed list of deceased beneficiaries so that their names can be deleted from the official records.
Similarly, the Food Supplies Department has been asked to provide information on deceased beneficiaries to ensure the list is updated and accurate. This apart, authorities have mandated a re-verification of data for women who have registered and sold paddy, cross-checking their details to confirm eligibility. These steps are designed to safeguard the scheme’s integrity and ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive the intended support.
The initiative follows the recent distribution of the third instalment of Rs 5,000 to over one crore women on the occasion of Rakhi Purnima. However, several beneficiaries reported not receiving the funds, prompting the government to expedite the verification process, which must be completed within 15 days.
Officials emphasise that this scrutiny will help identify and rectify discrepancies, ultimately benefiting the most deserving women under the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at empowering women through financial assistance.
