Guwahati: The Assam government on Saturday rolled out Orunodoi 3.0, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiling a series of new initiatives to strengthen the flagship welfare scheme and make it a stronger financial support system for women.
Launching the new phase of the scheme at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Sarma said the government plans to allow beneficiaries to access their future Orunodoi payments in advance or use their annual entitlement to secure bank loans during emergencies.
Explaining the proposal, the Chief Minister said a woman facing an urgent financial need should not have to depend on moneylenders.
“Suppose a woman suddenly needs Rs 2,000 or Rs 10,000 for an emergency. Instead of borrowing from moneylenders, she should be able to take that amount from her future Orunodoi entitlement without paying any interest. The money can then be adjusted gradually from her monthly assistance,” Sarma said.
According to him, the government is working on a mechanism that would enable beneficiaries to receive up to Rs 15,000 interest-free in advance, with the amount recovered in small deductions from future monthly instalments.
Sarma said beneficiaries would also be able to opt for bank loans by pledging their future Orunodoi assistance. Under the proposed system, banks would recover loan instalments directly from the monthly financial assistance.
“If someone prefers a bank loan instead, we will ask banks to deduct the instalments directly from the monthly Orunodoi assistance. We want to take Orunodoi to that level, where it becomes not just financial support but financial empowerment,” he said.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to expand the scheme by increasing both the number of beneficiaries and the monthly financial assistance, which currently stands at Rs 1,250.
A key feature of Orunodoi 3.0 is Aadhaar-based verification, introduced to ensure that benefits reach genuine beneficiaries while addressing problems caused by incorrect bank account details, duplicate accounts and multiple beneficiaries using the same account.
“We have seen instances where women failed to receive the money because of issues with bank accounts or because someone else’s account details were used. Linking bank accounts with Aadhaar will make the system more transparent and ensure the money reaches the rightful beneficiary,” Sarma said.
He acknowledged that some beneficiaries whose Aadhaar-linking process is still pending may experience delays in receiving the current instalment, but assured that the issue would be resolved soon.
To strengthen implementation, the government will appoint Orunodoi Sarathis in every Assembly constituency. They will help beneficiaries with enrolment, Aadhaar linkage, grievance redressal and other scheme-related services.
Keeping in view the recent floods in Upper Assam, Sarma announced an additional Rs 2,500 as special assistance for Orunodoi beneficiaries in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat and Jorhat districts.
He also appreciated beneficiaries who voluntarily contributed Rs 150 each towards flood relief, calling it a reflection of the humanitarian values the scheme has fostered.
The launch of Orunodoi 3.0 marks the first major implementation of the 2026-27 Assam Budget following its receipt of the Governor’s assent. More than 37 lakh women received the monthly assistance under the scheme on Saturday.
Responding to suggestions that the government should suspend Orunodoi for a month and divert the funds to flood relief, Sarma said Assam was in a position to support both relief efforts and welfare measures.
“Orunodoi is no longer just a welfare scheme, but has become a symbol of humanity and dignity for millions of women,” he said.