GUWAHATI:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a virtual meeting launched Orunodoi 2.0 from the national capital on December 14.
Turning Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision of direct benefit transfer (DBT) into reality, Sarma launched the much-awaited scheme from the conference hall of Assam House in New Delhi.
“Our government has been extending economic and nutritional security to lakhs of financially vulnerable families across the state and amongst them, the foremost has been Orunodoi scheme described as the foremost bead among the Ashtadash Mukutar Unnoyonee Maala in the Assam Budget 2020-2021,” said the Chief Minister, adding that the greater version of Orunodoi is being launched to ensure the benefits reach the financially vulnerable and underprivileged families of the state.
Altogether 10.54 lakh fresh beneficiaries have been newly added under the greater version of Orunodoi 2.0. With the new inclusion, the total number of beneficiaries in the state will be around 27 lakh.
The total financial outlay for Orunodoi is Rs 4,142 crore per annum, making it one of the largest direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) schemes in the country.
Under Orunodoi, beneficiaries of Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme will also be enrolled and they will get Rs 1,200 per month, besides beneficiaries of Deen Dayal Divyangjan Pension Scheme.
Later, the Chief Minister interacted with the members of the district-level monitoring committees and asked them to ensure smooth and hassle-free implementation of the scheme.
The conduct of DLMC meetings for the finalisation of beneficiaries will take place from January 1 to 15, 2023 while the distribution of application forms among selected beneficiaries on January 20, 2023. The collection and uploading of application forms in the portal will be completed on February 28, 2023.
Earlier, principal secretary (finance) Samir Sinha delivered the welcome address while commissioner and secretary (finance) Jayant Narlikar, gave a presentation on Orunodoi 2.0 principal resident commissioner, New Delhi, Rajeev Chandra Joshi was also present.
Following the directive from Chief Minister, there has been a revision of the list of Orunodoi beneficiaries by excluding those who no longer need the financial grant and including others irrespective of political ideologies. “An Orunodoi month was conducted from August 20 this year during which a door-to-door survey of Orunodoi beneficiaries was carried out to entail a process of verification which led to purification and enhancement of Orunodoi database,” said an official of the finance department.
Chairing a review meeting on October 20 last, the Chief Minister directed the district-level monitoring committees to prepare a fresh list of beneficiaries within 10 days. The list is being revised based on surveys conducted by college students.
“Proper reasons should be cited for the inclusion of eligible people or the exclusion of the ineligible people,” he said in course of the video conferencing with public representatives, deputy commissioners and members of the district-level monitoring committees.
The Chief Minister also said the new list of beneficiaries should be “above political ideologies and partisan intentions.”
Sarma appealed to some beneficiaries who got government jobs to withdraw voluntarily from the scheme.
He directed the members of the district-level monitoring committees to collect the data from the deputy commissioners, complete their investigation regarding those left out of the scheme and prepare a new list of beneficiaries.
Orunodoi, the poverty alleviation scheme, launched on December 1, 2020, entails a monthly grant of Rs.1,250 to each beneficiary. It is one of 18 flagship schemes of the Government of Assam currently in operation.
The Orunodoi benefit is usually transferred to the bank account of each beneficiary by the 10th of every month.