Peara Begum of Maizgaon village along the India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district of the State is a happy woman today. Her buoyancy and optimism are reflected in her visage. Why not? She has recently been added to the list of beneficiaries of the expanded Orunodoi II scheme. All this while, she was struggling to stay afloat through her petty business but with additional money coming to her bank account, she feels the tough days are behind her.
“I was told that Orunodoi money will be credited to my bank account from the 10th of November this year. So, from that day onwards, I will be able to significantly contribute to my family’s basic requirements, Peara told Asom Barta.
She will now be among the 26 lakh women in the State who will be getting ₹1,250 per month after Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the distribution of Orunodoi cards to new beneficiaries at Kokrajhar on October 11.
The Chief Minister said that the scheme has been adopted by the State Government to assuage the problems of the people emanating from their poverty. He said that the Government was keen to introduce more people-centric welfare schemes in Assam.
In a similar programme in Jorhat on the next day, he said that Orunodoi has proven to be a potent tool of women empowerment.
Bulbuli Changmai (40) of Changmai Gaon in Tamuli Bazar under Kheluwa Development Block in Sivasagar district reiterated the importance of the scheme while talking to this reporter.
“There are four of us in my family. My husband is working in a private company. We fall in the BPL category. For us, financial hardship is a routine occurrence. You can imagine how much this amount of ₹1,250 per month means to me and my family,” said Changmai.
Of the ₹1250 that is credited to the beneficiaries account, ₹400 is meant for health-related expenditure, ₹200 for purchase of daal, ₹80 for purchase of sugar, ₹150 for essential vegetables and fruits, ₹170 to provide financial relief to overcome Covid-created financial constraints while ₹250 is meant towards meeting expenditure incurred on electricity. The Chief Minister used his speeches to appeal to the people to judiciously utilise the amount.
Anita Lahkar (30), meanwhile, is looking to benefit from the Scheme after biding her time. “I will withdraw it only after it touches ₹10,000.” The part-time tailor and horticulturalist from Lahkarpara village under Ghagrapar Development Block in Nalbari district, wants to use the money to start a small business to supplement her income.
“I have been facing many hardships in my day-to-day life. I earn my daily livelihood by engaging with some tailoring works and horticultural activities. I was overwhelmed when our panchayat official informed me that along with 25 others of our village, I am also in the Orunodoi II beneficiary list,” she told this newsletter.
