By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Bhubaneswar: Post Covid-19 pandemic, the rush for direct cash transfer to the women by states in India has become a trend setter. Two states in India – Assam and Andhra Pradesh - debuted in 2020. Later, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee made it vote instrument, as her govt launched such a tailor made scheme in February 2021, mere 8 months ahead of State Assembly Elections.
Similarly, the then CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Chief Minister Laadli Behna Yojana in 2023, ahead of Assembly election in the December. Post big win of BJP in Madhya Pradesh, direct cash transfer schemes sprouted like mushrooms on the Indian landscape, as Karnataka joined the bandwagon with Gruha Lakshmi in August 2023 and Tamil Nadu in September 2023, Himachal Pradesh in February 2024 and Delhi in March 2024.
WOMEN CASH TRANSFER SCHEMES ENTER POLL MANIFESTOS
With the electoral dividends of direct cash transfer schemes for women becoming obvious, the Congress party has announced Mahalakshmi Yojana for women in their poll manifesto for the Telangana Assembly polls. And In Odisha, the main opposition party BJP made it their prime poll plank.
The election results in West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh nailed the fact of how such tailor made direct cash transfer schemes for women are proving vote winner for the players at the hustings. And post a poor show in Maharashtra in 2024 LS Polls, the ruling alliance Mahayuti joined the women direct cash transfer club. JMM-led Jharkhand, neighbouring state of Odisha, has also joined the bandwagon, when polls are only months away.
WOMEN POWER PLAY
An analysis of the voter turnout shows, the two states that first have set the trend of such direct cash transfer to women have a history of high women voter turnout. In 2024 elections, Assam recorded the highest turnout of 81.7%, followed by Andhra Pradesh (80.3%). West Bengal, which first launched as vote instrument, months ahead of poll, had seen a 80.2% turnout in the 2024 polls.
The female voter turnout in Odisha in 2024 polls had been a whopping 75.6%, which is fourth highest among the major states in the country. The women voters in Odisha are over 1.66 crores (18-plus age group). The ECI data shows, overall, nearly 43k more women than male had voted in Odisha in the 2024 polls The male voter turnout was 1.250cr; female turnout – 1.2543cr, suggest the data.
SUBHADRA YOJANA TOPS ALL IN COUNTRY?
A study of the direct cash transfer schemes to women in force in the Indian states market reveals the following:
Andhra Pradesh scheme (Rs 1.5k/month) has a condition – given to married women, whose child/children are studying in class 1- 12th.
Assam government’s scheme (Rs1k/month) talks of priority to widow, separate/divorced, unmarried girls (of over 35 years age).
West Bengal scheme (Rs 1k/month) makes this eligible to women enrolled in Swasthya Sathi (a health insurance scheme for poor families). Moreover, age group is 25-60.
Karnataka govt (Rs 2k/month) to only married women, who are head of the household.
Madhya Pradesh (Rs 1250/month) to only married women.
Jharkhand scheme (Rs1k/month) carries the age limit of 25-50years.
Maharashtra govt’s scheme (Rs 1500/month) to all women in age group of 21-65 years.
SUBHADRA YOJANA
Women covered under the food security schemes of State (SFSS) and Centre (NFSA) (means all BPL households), and women not having any NFSA/SFSS card, are also eligible, provided their annual income is below Rs 2.5 lakh.
The age limit is 21-60 years.
The above pre requisites required to avail the Yojana in Odisha clearly infer the following:
The scheme’s eligibility criteria didn’t limit it to married women or head of household.
In Odisha, the eligibility is not linked to health insurance enrolment. It has only linked to NFSA/SFSS cards
