Guwahati, 01 August (HS): The Assam government is planning to introduce an emergency advance facility of up to ₹10,000 for beneficiaries of its flagship Orunodoi scheme, aimed at helping women meet urgent financial requirements during emergencies.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the proposed advance would be recovered through small monthly deductions from future Orunodoi assistance, ensuring that beneficiaries receive immediate financial support without additional burden.

Speaking at a programme on Saturday, the Chief Minister said nearly 37 lakh women are currently covered under the scheme, with the enhanced annual assistance of ₹9,000 being disbursed from April. He described Orunodoi as one of the government's key welfare initiatives for the current financial year.

Sarma also said the government is linking Orunodoi benefits with Aadhaar by Aadhaar-seeding beneficiaries' bank accounts to eliminate fraud and ensure that assistance reaches genuine recipients. He noted that around 17,000 beneficiaries may experience temporary delays in payments during the verification process, adding that the issue is being addressed to ensure timely disbursal.

It may be mentioned that CM Dr Sarma has already announced that flood-affected Orunodoi beneficiaries would receive an additional financial assistance of ₹2,500. He also said around 36 lakh women associated with the scheme would contribute ₹150 each towards flood relief efforts.

The government has further assigned dedicated responsibilities to Orunodoi Sarathis, with one Sarathi deployed in every locality to assist beneficiaries and resolve issues related to the scheme.---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash