Assam to appoint Orunodoi Sarthi in every Assembly constituency to streamline welfare delivery

The Assam government will appoint a dedicated Orunodoi Sarthi in every Assembly constituency to ensure the seamless implementation of its flagship welfare programme and address beneficiary-related issues at the grassroots level, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday, August 1.

The announcement was made while inaugurating the State-Level Disbursement Ceremony of the first financial assistance for the financial year 2026–27 under Orunodoi 3.0 at the Srimanta Damodardeva International Auditorium in Panjabari, Guwahati. The Chief Minister said that 3.7 million women across Assam would receive financial assistance under the scheme during the current financial year.

Highlighting a key administrative reform, Sarma said the bank accounts of all Orunodoi beneficiaries have now been linked with their Aadhaar numbers to ensure that financial assistance reaches the intended recipients through a transparent and error-free direct benefit transfer system. He said discrepancies between beneficiaries' names and bank account details had, in several cases, affected the successful transfer of funds, and the Aadhaar-bank linkage has been implemented to eliminate such hurdles and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of assistance.

The Chief Minister said the proposed Orunodoi Sarthi in every Assembly constituency would serve as a dedicated point of contact for resolving beneficiary-related issues and facilitating the smooth delivery of welfare benefits at the local level.

Sarma also announced that the government is working on a mechanism to allow beneficiaries to receive advance payments under the Orunodoi Scheme during periods of financial distress. The initiative, he said, is aimed at ensuring that women are not compelled to borrow money at high interest rates to meet urgent expenses.

In addition, the government plans to enable women seeking bank loans to use their Orunodoi assistance towards instalment payments, a move intended to strengthen their financial credibility and improve access to formal credit.

Addressing the programme, Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the Orunodoi Scheme, introduced under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has evolved into a major instrument for women's empowerment while contributing to the strengthening of the state's grassroots economy.

The inaugural programme was attended by MLAs Bijoy Gupta, Diplu Ranjan Sarma and Pradyut Bordoloi, Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Finance Department Commissioner and Secretary Jayanta Narlikar, along with ministers, legislators and senior government officials. Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council, the Chief Executives of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, Panchayat representatives and Municipal Ward Commissioners from different parts of the state also participated in the event through coordinated arrangements.