Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday flagged off Subhadra Rath to spread awareness about the Subhadra Yojana scheme. The raths will roll on across the state until September 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the programme on his birthday, September 17.

Under the scheme, all eligible women will be given ₹50,000 each in five years with ₹10,000 paid every year. A total of ₹10,000 per annum will be paid in two instalments of ₹5,000 each on Rakhi Purnima and International Women’s Day on March 8.

Launching the rath at Mahatma Gandhi Marg here, Majhi said: “The scheme will represent the Odia Asmita (Odia Pride). It will help in realising the dreams of every woman into a reality. More than one crore women will benefit. It will transform the lives of more than a crore women in the state. It will cover all eligible women aged 21 years or above and less than 60 years.”

“The BJP had announced in its election manifesto that it would give ₹50,000 in
two years but now it has announced ₹10,000 per year,” a BJD leader said.