Subhadra Yojana driving women empowerment: CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has created 17 lakh Lakhpati Didis, and it aims to increase this number to 60 lakh with another 10 lakh ‘Millionaire Didis’ by the year 2047, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Sunday during the International Women’s Day celebration of the women and child development (WCD) department in Puri.On the occasion, the CM distributed Subhadra Yojana assistance of Rs 5,000 each to 1,02,12,665 beneficiaries as part of the fourth instalment. A total assistance of Rs 5,106.33 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.Quoting a survey report by the Indian Institute of Management in Sambalpur, Majhi said 25.52% of beneficiaries used the Subhadra assistance to start businesses, while 35.7% spent it on household needs. Many women also used the funds to repay loans, grow savings and improve skills.The CM also raised the issue of alleged disrespect to President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to West Bengal for the 9th International Santali conference on Saturday. Condemning it, Majhi said the incident was an insult not just to the President, but also to the entire nation and womanhood.Majhi also released the Subhadra review report, a coffee table book of the WCD department, and a booklet on the prevention of child marriage.Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, who is also the WCD minister, said what the country aspires to achieve today for women, has already been realised in Odisha. “The Subhadra Yojana stands as proof of women empowerment in the state and positioned Odisha’s women as an emerging force in India,” she said.In the previous 3 instalments of Subhadra Yojana, more than Rs 15,000 crore has been distributed to beneficiaries.