Who will get priority in 'Orunodoi' scheme? Himanta Biswa Sarma reveals details

Guwahati: With many questions continuing to linger over the Assam government's flagship 'Orunodoi' the government's health, finance and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the ongoing session of the Assam Legislative Assembly explained the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the potential beneficiaries.

Himanta Biswa Sarma today during the ongoing session of the Assam Assembly clarified that priority shall be given to the families with widows, unmarried women, families with a specially-abled member, and families having a divorced woman.

After them, poor families not having a ration card for free rice will get the preference, Sarma said, adding that poor families with National Food Security Scheme (NFSS) cards will also be given preference.

However, if any member of a family works under the government or PSUs, the family will not be entitled to get the benefits of the 'Orunodoi' scheme. Families having 15 Bighas of land, four-wheeler, refrigerator, income above Rs. 2 lakh, or their own tractors shall also not be eligible for the scheme, announced Sarma.

However, those families who own two or three-wheelers, tractors under self-help groups can avail of the benefits.

It needs mention here that the Assam government will launch the 'Orunodoi' scheme in the state from October 2, to provide financial assistance to around 17 lakh families in the state.

Under this direct benefit transfer scheme, Rs. 830 will be given to eligible families per month, preferably those run by women earners to buy essential food items and medicines.

Addressing a press meet in Guwahati, Assam Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "It will be the biggest scheme in Assam which will include 17 lakh families. The selection of beneficiaries will begin from August 17. The beneficiaries will receive the money on the first day of the month."

Sarma further announced that instead of channeling funds into different schemes which are being run with mixed results in the state, the government shall focus much of its energies on this particular scheme to mitigate the financial woes of a substantial portion of the population.

Additionally, Sarma said, more funds will be doled out during festivals and other special events -- like for paying school fees of the beneficiaries' wards.

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