Subhadra Plus Announced: Odisha Govt to Fund Marriage of Poor Girls

Subhadra Plus Announced: Odisha Govt to Fund Marriage of Poor Girls

In a significant move, the Odisha government has announced the expansion of its flagship Subhadra Yojana into Subhadra Plus, aimed at the holistic welfare of women and girls.

Presenting the state budget, CM Majhi introduced new initiatives under Subhadra Plus, including Kishori Subhadra, Subhadra Sanchay, Subhadra Surakhya, Subhadra Sakhi, Subhadra Yatri, Subhadra Sangha (clubs), Kuha Subhadra (call centre), Subhadra Sahyogi, Subhadra Scholars, and Sujogya Subhadra to enhance its reach and impact.

Among these, Subhadra Surakhya focuses on women’s safety and security, with ₹153 crore allocated in the budget. Additionally, a ₹17,998 crore budget has been proposed for women and child welfare programs.

To support economically weaker families, the government has introduced the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana, modeled after a similar scheme in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative will facilitate mass marriages, covering all expenses and providing gifts to brides, with ₹12 crore allocated.

For maternal and child health, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has been allocated ₹208 crore, ensuring a ₹12,000 maternity benefit for mothers of girl children. The Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pusti Yojana (MSPY) has received ₹526 crore, though it saw a ₹28 crore reduction from the previous budget. However, the government will launch the Odisha Pusti Mission with ₹100 crore to strengthen nutrition support.

Moreover, ₹2,775 crore has been earmarked for the Mission Shakti department to implement various women empowerment schemes, supporting the goal of making women “Lakhpati Didis.”

This budget marks a strong commitment to women's welfare, financial empowerment, and social upliftment in Odisha.