The Assam Cabinet voted on Thursday to raise the monthly Orunodoi allowance from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500 for October. This Rs 250 hike serves as a festive injection for the 40 lakh women registered under the scheme. The cash will hit their bank accounts alongside the regular disbursement for the month.
The move follows the relaunch of the welfare program as Orunodoi 3.0 earlier this year. After the April Assembly elections, the BJP-led government doubled down on direct benefit transfers. In March alone, the state pumped Rs 9,000 into each beneficiary’s account. That single transfer cost the exchequer approximately Rs 3,600 crore, covering four monthly instalments plus a special Rongali Bihu payout.
The scheme’s expansion has been steady since its inception. It started with Rs 830 per month for 18 lakh women. Today, the net wraps around 40 lakh households. The October 17 holiday declaration extends the Puja break to five days, giving workers and families more time for the festivities.
Beyond the cash handout, the Cabinet greenlit the Assam Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project. The total cost stands at Rs 796.88 crore. The Asian Development Bank will fund Rs 637.504 crore of that sum, with the state government contributing the remaining Rs 159.376 crore.
The SWIFT Project targets 102 derelict community beels for restoration. Officials say this will revitalize local fisheries and improve wetland management. The first phase of rehabilitation works is set to begin shortly, aiming to transform how the state handles its water bodies.