The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Assam government on Tuesday launched the biggest-ever Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme called 'Orunodoi', with an aim to cover 22 lakh families in the state.  At present the scheme will benefit 17 lakh families. The government announced that it will transfer Rs 830 per month to the account of one of the female members of the family under the 'Orunodoi' scheme.

Post Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election, the number of beneficiaries is expected to increase to 22 lakh families. Every year the state government would need Rs 2,400 crore for the successful implementation of the scheme. Addressing a programme at Numali Jalah Parade Ground near Amingaon in Kamrup (Metro) district, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the state government is committed to build a socio-economically oriented women development narrative as the Orunodoi scheme, launched on Monday, will serve as a big support to the women empowerment. 

"Our government sincerely believes that every resident of Assam should live with dignity and therefore, the government has been launching several schemes," Sonowal said. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the financial minister said, "Under the scheme, widow, unmarried women, divorcee and people with disabilities will get special preference. Through this scheme, an effort has been made to bring about the overall empowerment of women in the state. The present state government has provided free enrolment to 7 lakh students along with launching the scheme of Insurance Cover for Students and others for the development of an academic atmosphere of the state". 

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