Odisha Government’s Subhadra Scheme: Inability to Empower Common People

The Odisha government is making all efforts to create new excitement among the state’s residents regarding the “Subhadra Scheme”. The government is using its machinery to project it as “self-reliant,” “women empowerment,” and “revolutionary” to create a positive image across the state. But the government is failing answer a few questions.

1. If this scheme is considered a success by the BJP government, then why, a few years ago, were similar schemes ridiculed as “Rabidi” schemes? In 2022, during public protests against Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, the Prime Minister mocked non-BJP state governments (including Delhi) for implementing direct cash transfer or similar schemes, calling them “Rabidi.” Yet, in Madhya Pradesh in 2023 (under the Ladli Scheme) and now in Odisha after the 2024 elections, the BJP has implemented the Subhadra Scheme for direct money transfers. This should not be used as an electoral strategy.
2. It is being propagated that ₹55,000 crores would be spent on the Subhadra Scheme. However, the government never accounts for the vast subsidies and tax benefits provided to corporate entities. Over time, the government has been increasing subsidies for companies and reducing import-export taxes and customs duties. Under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), the government provides loans, ensuring companies bear no expenses. There is no clear accounting of how much money the government provides to corporates in such ways or how much economic burden it bears itself. This information should be made public.
3. The state government should clarify the source of the ₹55,000 crore it plans to allocate for the Subhadra Scheme over five years. We fear that the government might redirect funds from scholarships for tribal students, pensions for the elderly, subsidies for farmers, and budgets for government hospitals and schools to the Subhadra Scheme. Such reports of fund diversion have already been published in newspapers.
4. The state government should clearly mention the funding for the Subhadra Scheme in the state budget. There should also be a law passed in the Assembly ensuring that women of all ages receive this entitlement as a right. Just as laws have been enacted to secure the right to education, the right to information, and the right to clean drinking water, nutritious food, and good healthcare for all citizens, a similar law should be made to guarantee the right to economic upliftment, ensuring direct cash transfers.
5. Instead of simply transferring money into people’s accounts, the government should at least bring the state’s minimum wage for government work to the same level as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, increase the amount under the Madhu Babu Old Age Pension Scheme to match Delhi’s standards, and create more workdays under MGNREGA like Bihar. If the government fails to provide MGNREGA work, unemployment benefits should be extended to more cardholders, as seen in Karnataka. This would not only increase people’s purchasing power but also strengthen their economic resilience, and stop the rise in indebtedness. The state government must focus on these issues.When the government refrains from such actions, we perceive that, under the guise of increasing purchasing power, it is promoting the scheme in a way that actually entices citizens—something that should not be happening.
6. The rising economic inequality in the country has left many people struggling for necessities like food, education, and proper healthcare. This is due to the government’s flawed economic policies. We believe that the government is implementing schemes like the Subhadra Scheme to divert attention from the growing poverty and inequality and to prevent people from holding it accountable for its failures.The aim is to portray the government as benevolent and concerned for the people, thus garnering votes during elections.
7. The growing poverty in our society is due to the government’s economic policy. On the one hand, the government is creating poverty and on the other it is converting people poverty into an election strategy. The government must stop making a mockery of this poverty and should not use poverty for strategic gain. Instead, it should acknowledge poverty as failure of economic policy. It should take steps so that people would realise money transfer schemes as their rights not mercy of the government.

Dr. Golak Bihari Nath, President
Deba Ranjan, General Secretary

Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan, Odisha

Email: [email protected]