This new phase increases the number of recipients by over Rs. 12 lakh as compared to Rs. 24 lakh in the earlier period. 6 lakh beneficiaries of Orunodoi 2.0, which is the biggest state-run Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) scheme in Assam’s history.
The Assam government has introduced the third version of its biggest poverty eradication program, Orunodoi 3. 0 on Thursday, which is broader than the previous two and will benefit around 37. In the same year, there has been motivation for 2 lakh beneficiaries through direct cash transfers. As a part of the ‘Orunodoi 3. 0’ project implemented with an expenditure of ₹5,604 crore, more than 12. 5 lakh new beneficiaries during the current financial year, which was not available in the previous edition, and hence the largest state-run Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme ever seen in the state of Assam.
At a recent event in Guwahati, Assam’s Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, gave the recently issued Orunodoi Cards to the new recipients. Amorg provides ₹1,250 to each household on the tenth of the month, directly into their bank accounts, with the goal of aiding low-income women and their families.
Sarma, speaking at the launch, recalled how ‘identification’ had begun during the Lok Sabha election campaign when forms had been distributed to assess inclusion in schemes. ‘That caused a lot of criticism, but we just wanted to know who was excluded, he said.
Getting back to the form, roughly 10 lakh people filled these forms, and thus the government added about 10,000 new beneficiaries from each of the 126 assembly constituencies of Assam.
For the execution of ‘Orunodoi 3. 0’, the government has expected that the monthly expenses would reach up to ₹467 crore, which will be around ₹5,604 crore in a duration of one year. “He, however, pointed out that such a big team has never been formed in independent Assam,” Sarma said.
Some beneficiaries would be required to apply for the benefits again so as to continue receiving them, a policy aimed at ensuring that fraudsters are expunged from the system. The eligibility criteria are the gross annual income of the family being below ₹ 4 lakhs, no member of the family is in government service, and the family owning a ration card.
The applicants should also be the permanent residents of Assam having a valid Aadhaar-seeded ration card.
Sarma further informed us that fresh new ration cards have also been distributed, and they stand at almost Rs. 19 lakh and about two. Around 6 crore residents have ration cards with them now, which has eliminated poor-class families from the main frame almost.
In an official statement, it was clearly stated that information should be updated and the standards of the scheme had to be upgraded; thus, there was more to decommission ‘Orunodoi 1. 0’ and ‘Orunodoi 2. 0’ without migrating old data.
However, while choosing beneficiaries for ‘Orunodoi 3. 0’, the district administration will ensure that no person, who was eligible for the previous editions, is dropped off arbitrarily of the list unless he/she does not fit the general criteria of selection for the new edition.
Started on December 1, 2020, ‘Orunodoi’ was furthered on to the second phase on December 14, 2022. About the scheme, Sarma stated that other states have begun implementing similar programs across the country, although in different names, where Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have also started implementing this scheme under different names.
