The Assam government has disbursed ₹9,000 each to nearly 4 million families as part of its flagship beneficiary scheme, Orunodoi, just days ahead of the expected announcement of the state assembly elections schedule.
The scheme, launched in 2020, initially covered 1.8 million beneficiaries with ₹830 per month, but now covers 4 million women. However, around 10% of eligible women are still not covered by it.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that ₹17,000 crore has been disbursed under the scheme till date, and an additional ₹3,600 crore was transferred on Tuesday.
The monthly sum of ₹1,250 would also get hiked once the BJP comes to power again, Sarma said. The government currently provides free rice, pulses, sugar, salt, and tea leaves to beneficiaries, but plans to give these items free of cost if they come to power again.
The move has been criticized by the Congress unit in Assam, who termed it an attempt to 'buy votes.' However, Sarma rejected the charge, saying the scheme has a strict eligibility criteria and has been going on since 2020.
