Bhubaneswar: The much-touted ‘Subhadra Yojana’ was among the major promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run up to the recent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha. As per the promise, every woman was to receive Rs 50,000. However, the state government has come under bitter attack from the opposition after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced SOP for the scheme on Friday. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress have accused the BJP government of cheating the women of the state. They sought to know as to how women can be empowered with Rs 10,000 per year or Rs 833 per month. The ruling BJP, on its part, has maintained that the scheme will immensely benefit women.
What Was Promised?
The BJP had given a ‘guarantee’ to provide Rs 50,000 to each woman. However, the SOP announced by the government states that the beneficiaries will be given Rs 10,000 annually in two instalments and a total of Rs 50,000 in five years. Stating that each beneficiary will get only Rs 833 per month, opposition parties sought to know how can the scheme empower women with such a paltry amount. While the BJP had promised the scheme for every woman, only 70 lakh women will benefit as per the conditions laid down in the SOP, BJD said.
Has BJP Cheated Women?
As per the government’s announcement, women from economically well-off families, government servants or income tax payees will not be eligible under this scheme. Besides, women who are receiving assistance of Rs 1,500 or more per month or Rs 18,000 or more per year under any other government scheme will also be ineligible for inclusion under Subhadra Yojana. The opposition parties pointed out that many women including ASHA workers with very low emoluments cannot be included in the scheme. Both BJD and Congress have accused the BJP government of betraying the women of the state. The BJP, on the other hand, pointed out that payment of Rs 50,,000 at a time will put enormous burden on the government, and said Subhadra Yojana will prove useful for the women. The saffron party also claimed that the opposition is worried over the people-oriented scheme introduced by the state government.
Empowerment Dream With Rs 27
With Rs 50,000 to be doled out in ten instalments in five years, beneficiaries of Subhadra Yojana will get Rs 27 per day. Women in the state were hopeful that they would get Rs 50,000 at one time and invest the assistance money in business or other work. BJD said women are highly disappointed over the SOP announced by the government as the meagre amount of Rs 800 will be of no use for them. The conch party has termed the scheme a betrayal by the BJP and said the real nature of the ruling party has now been exposed. Congress has sought to know as to why women above the age of 60 years are not included in the scheme.
The BJP government had faced similar attacks over different allowances and pensions announced by it earlier with the opposition parties accusing it of deviating from its promises. Therefore, the BJP government needs to keep people’s sentiments, aspirations and interests in mind while framing any major plans and programmes in future.
