Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Orunodoi 3.0 on Saturday at the Srimanta Damodardeva International Auditorium in Guwahati. The state will now offer beneficiaries interest-free emergency advances of up to Rs 15,000. These funds will be recovered through small, gradual deductions from future monthly payments.
Sarma wants to stop women from relying on predatory lenders. “Suppose a woman suddenly needs Rs 2,000 or Rs 10,000 for an emergency. Instead of borrowing from moneylenders, she should be able to take that amount from her future Orunodoi entitlement without paying any interest. The money can then be adjusted gradually from her monthly assistance,” Sarma said.
Beneficiaries may also use their future assistance to secure bank loans. Banks will be authorized to recover loan installments directly from the monthly Orunodoi payments. The government currently provides Rs 1,250 monthly to roughly 37 lakh women.
To fix payment errors, the state is mandating Aadhaar-bank account linkage. This move targets fraud, duplicate accounts, and incorrect recipient details. Roughly 17,000 beneficiaries face temporary payment delays during this transition, but officials promise quick resolution. To improve support at the grassroots level, the state will appoint an Orunodoi Sarthi in every Assembly constituency to handle grievances and enrollment.
Flood-affected recipients in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Jorhat districts will receive an extra Rs 2,500 in relief. Meanwhile, 36 lakh women have voluntarily donated Rs 150 each to aid broader flood relief efforts. The event featured several officials, including Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, Mayor Mrigen Sarania, and various MLAs and municipal commissioners.
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