Assam govt plans up to Rs 10,000 emergency advance for Orunodoi beneficiaries

The Assam government is considering introducing an emergency advance facility of up to Rs 10,000 for beneficiaries of the flagship Orunodoi scheme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The proposed facility is aimed at helping women beneficiaries meet urgent financial needs during emergencies. The advance amount may be recovered through small monthly deductions from future Orunodoi payments.

Addressing a programme, Sarma said the government was exploring the proposal as part of efforts to strengthen the financial security provided under the scheme.

The chief minister said financial assistance under Orunodoi was being released to around 37 lakh women, with Rs 9,000 being disbursed from April onwards. He added that the scheme was among the top priorities of the state government in the current financial year.

Sarma said the government was also working to link Orunodoi benefits with Aadhaar, while beneficiaries’ bank accounts were being Aadhaar-seeded to prevent fraud and ensure that financial assistance reached genuine recipients.

He said around 17,000 beneficiaries could face temporary delays in receiving payments due to the ongoing Aadhaar-linking process. However, the government was taking steps to resolve the issue and ensure the timely release of benefits.

Meanwhile, Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said flood-affected Orunodoi beneficiaries would receive an additional Rs 2,500 in financial assistance.

He also said that around 36 lakh women would contribute Rs 150 each towards flood relief efforts.

The government has also assigned Orunodoi Sarathis specific responsibilities, with one Sarathi designated to assist beneficiaries in every locality and help address issues related to the scheme.