Grounded In Growth: Odisha’s New Chapter In Empowering Women

A quiet but far-reaching transformation is underway in Odisha, distinguished by purposeful execution and well-defined institutional frameworks.

At its heart is the Subhadra Yojana, the state’s flagship women-centric initiative launched in September 2024. With over ₹10,000 crore disbursed to more than one crore women, the scheme transcends conventional welfare.

The Mohan Charan Majhi government’s approach to women’s empowerment rests on three strategic pillars: direct financial assistance, institutional strengthening, and broad-based economic participation.

Subhadra Yojana and Beyond: A Long-Term Commitment

Under the Subhadra Yojana, eligible women, aged 21-60 and belonging to households earning below ₹2.5 lakh annually, receive ₹50,000 over five years, distributed in two annual tranches around Raksha Bandhan and International Women’s Day.

The scheme is executed through Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs), ensuring speed and transparency. By March 2025, ₹5,000 crore had reached over 1.18 crore women.

Alongside this, the Subhadra Debit Card also encourages digital transactions, with incentives for the top 100 users in each panchayat. This is another step towards a cashless, accountable economy.

Over the 2024–29 period, ₹55,825 crore was committed to Subhadra, with ₹10,145 crore allocated in 2025–26 alone.

Subhadra is also evolving into a multi-pronged ecosystem known as Subhadra Plus, with initiatives like Kishori Subhadra (for adolescent girls), Subhadra Surakhya (focused on safety), and Subhadra Sanchay (promoting savings).

The ₹153 crore earmarked for Subhadra Surakhya in the latest budget underlines a broader vision: that empowerment is as much about dignity and safety as it is about income.

Lakhpati Didis: Leading from the Front

Odisha’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are scripting an equally powerful story of economic mobility. The state now leads the country in producing Lakhpati Didis, referring to women whose annual income has crossed ₹1 lakh. Over 16 lakh such women now manage enterprises, supply chain linkages, and often, other SHGs.

In 2024–25 alone, SHGs in the state secured credit linkages worth ₹17,454 crore — the highest ever recorded in Odisha. The average loan size per SHG stood at ₹4.93 lakh, indicating a shift towards more ambitious enterprise models.

In a significant boost to financial viability, ₹299.97 crore was returned to over three lakh SHGs as interest subvention. Additionally, SHGs were entrusted with government contracts amounting to ₹3,695 crore, underscoring their growing role in public service delivery and local economic activity.

Events like the Subhadra Shakti Mela, which brought together 1,000 SHGs and honoured 900+ Lakhpati Didis, act as both platforms for market access and symbols of collective pride.

Inclusive and Sustainable Design

What distinguishes Odisha’s empowerment strategy is its inclusivity and integration. Recent SHG outreach brought 4.33 lakh new households, many from elderly and PwD backgrounds, into the fold.

The state’s commitment to holistic development is underlined by the fact that ₹100 crore has been allocated towards nutrition-focused initiatives targeting children, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating women. Under maternity benefit schemes such as MAMATA and PMMVY, ₹338.52 crore has been disbursed to over 3.38 lakh women.

Infrastructure for early childhood care has also seen a boost, with the construction of 1,009 new Anganwadi centres and 2,069 Nutri-gardens across the state.

In support of culturally sensitive and inclusive practices, ₹12 crore has been earmarked for the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana, which facilitates mass weddings for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Moreover, ₹20.49 crore has been invested under the Subhadra Sambedana programme to enhance community safety and promote gender sensitivity.

These numbers speak to a model where empowerment is not episodic, but systemic, designed to reach the last mile, integrate with cultural practices, and strengthen long-term social infrastructure.

Beyond Welfare: Towards Agency and Aspiration

The true strength of Odisha’s women-centric approach lies not in its budgetary numbers, but in the shift it is effecting at the grassroots. Women are not just mere beneficiaries. They are becoming agents of economic change, custodians of tradition, and participants in governance.

When a woman receives her Subhadra installment or scales up an SHG-led enterprise, it is a recalibration of gender roles, a step towards community resilience, and a reaffirmation of self-worth.

Odisha’s journey is far from over. Challenges remain in ensuring inclusion, responsive grievance redressal, and adaptive design.

Yet, the foundation is firm. In combining fiscal commitment with grassroots governance, digital access, and cultural rootedness, the state is offering a roadmap for inclusive development, placing women at its core.

Odisha’s bet on its women may well be its most valuable investment yet.