Claiming an attempt towards intensifying women empowerment, Assam government launched the Orunodoi 3.0 scheme across the state earlier this week. In Orunodoi 3.0, the state government will be prioritising destitute women, divyangs, widows, transgender, and other vulnerable people to provide them with financial security. Families with income below ₹2 lakh are eligible to apply and the state government will be spending ₹467 crore per month on this scheme.
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With elections to the Assam assembly slated for early 2026, the Congress lost no time in announcing that if it is voted to power its government will scrap Orunodoi and introduce “Na-Lakhimi” in its place which will pay beneficiaries ₹3000 per month as against ₹1,250 under Arunodoi 3.0.
The question which arises is can ₹1250 or ₹1500 or ₹3000 per month empower women in the state? The political parties may be using public money to implement schemes which may benefit many, but are such schemes a permanent solution for women empowerment in the state? The freebie culture for votes is not a new political strategy, but before spending public money to the tune of almost Rs 500 crore per month, the effectiveness of the scheme should be properly analysed. What will a destitute woman get for ₹1250 per month? Will it help her in any meaningful way? Well, the politicians running the government may know better, but let us not waste precious public money.