Can “Subhadra” Be A Game Changer?

It’s a five-year cash transfer scheme to empower poor women at the grassroots. State BJP envisioned this scheme during the election campaign to change the game and succeeded. Now this scheme is in the process of implementation. The state administration is instructed to carry out the process perfectly without any flaw. The question is whether this program will be a Game changer. Will this five-year plan aimed to pay rupees ten thousand to a woman turn her into a political asset for the BJP?

Named after the adorable sister of Lord Jagannatha and Balabhadra, the “Subhadra” scheme was approved by the cabinet on 22 August 2024. Considering it as a path-breaking initiative for women’s empowerment the Chief Minister informed that an outlay of Rs. 55, 825 crore has been allocated towards implementation.  Through this scheme, every eligible woman will get rupees 10000 per annum for 5 continuous years. Women from economically well-off families, Govt servants, or income tax payees will not be eligible under this scheme.

To ensure transparency, all beneficiaries will be distributed with an Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank account linked “Subhadra” Debit Card.  Govt. will deposit Rs 10 thousand a year in two equal installments on the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan and International Women’s Day to the “Subhadra” cards and allow them to withdraw as per their requirements. The motto of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to women from economically weaker sections of society.

 

Following Didi

The West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, is the first to introduce a program of this kind under the moniker “Lakshmir Bhandar” in February 2021. An amount of  Rs. 1,200/- every month to women SC/ST households and ₹ 1,000/- per month to other women beneficiaries are provided through this scheme. On January 28, 2023, the Madhya Pradesh BJP government introduced the Mukhya Mantri Ladli Behna Yojana, which provides a monthly payment of Rs. 1000 to a woman as an important step in the direction of women’s health and nutrition and economic self-reliance.

Both West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh are running these schemes in different names as part of their women empowerment programmes. Election-mounted states like Maharastra and Bihar have also announced such schemes in their states.

 

Better than SHG

Columnist and expert in microeconomics Prabhash Mishra commended the government’s effort and contrasted it with the SHG program. This concept, he said, is superior to self-help organizations. Only the top members, such as the president or secretary, receive rewards in SHGs. Her spouse also makes decisions occasionally. Even yet, members receive loans rather than grants from the group’s fund. They are required to pay back the loan with a hefty interest rate within a specific time frame. Here, qualifying recipients can get funds immediately into their account through “Subhadra” without having to worry about payback. She is free to choose how much money she wants to spend. She can use the money for health care, medication, or perhaps starting her own company.

However, this sum is quite little. This might be at least rupees 25,000 every  year. which would enable her to start a small business in her community or purchase a sewing machine. However, Shri Mishra stated that in five thousand it is not feasible at all

 

Other DBTs

The state has witnessed several benefit transfer programs for farmers. Small and marginal farmers received direct cash payments under KALIA scheme during Biju Janata Dal’s Regime. Each farmer received 4,000 rupees in KALIA divided into two equal year installments. One landless farmer was eligible to receive rupees 12,000 annually in three installments . Reports stated that Mohan Majhi, the new chief minister, was in favour of the idea but wanted to rename it. Another DBT program, the PM Kissan Samman Nidhi Yojana, is centrally sponsored and provides farmers with Rs. 6000 annually.

 

Eligibility

The largest benefit transfer program, known as “Subhadra,” will see impoverished women get ongoing financial assistance for a period of five years. They do not need to belong to any group in order to receive benefits from this arrangement. Any Odisha native woman who is over 21 but under 60 will be eligible for this benefit. If she receives any government benefits in the form of a pension or DBT, which totals Rs. 1500 per month or Rs. 18,000 annually, she will not be eligible. The Subhadra Debit card is not available to any family members of employees in government businesses or government sectors.

Multiple members of a family are eligible but if any one of your family pays Income tax or owns a 4-wheeler or your family owns 5 Acres of irrigated or a minimum of 10 Acres of non-irrigated land is not allowed to get enrolled in Subhadra Scheme.

The application form is now available at Anganwadi centres, Block offices, ULB Offices, Common service centres, Mo seva kendras, and other suitable locations as decided by the district administration.   So, assembling of numbers of beneficiaries and also unscrupulous elements are expected in such centres.   “The expected number of beneficiaries for Subhadra is more than one crore. Hence, it is apprehended that beneficiaries would assemble for collection and submission of forms in various locations. Moreover, unscrupulous elements may try to exploit people and engage in nefarious activities, said Development Commissioner Anu Garg.

Hence, in a letter to the DGP, she requested to take precautionary steps to avoid any untoward incidents during such activities for smooth implementation of the programme.

This Scheme is considered a game changer at the political level. As poor women at the ground level are targeted by the Govt., it is expected that vote share of BJP may increase. Political Pundits expect that this may supersede the value of SHGs. During BJD period, SHGs played a pivotal role in manipulating the voting elements. Now BJP will dominate it with the help of Subhadra says, senior journalist Parsuram Das.

 

Poverty demands Cash transfers

But Economist and researcher prof Amarendra Das has contradicted the idea.  He said Govt should focus on Public goods rather than cash transfer schemes.  These schemes are all like traps, Former CM Naveen Patnaik was in it and now the present CM also entering it.

He said the poor will always demand cash transfers because they want to use the cash to supplement consumption.  When the size of the middle-class population increases, the focus on developing public infrastructure and public goods also increases, as we observe in Kerala. You can see a shift of demand for Govt run hospitals, schools, and common infrastructures. People prefer to go to public hospitals than private hospitals, he added.

It is not true that investing in public goods, and infrastructure will not give you votes, or public support but it’s a long-term gain and lasts long. But these Cash transfers are like instant noodles. More the poverty, more will be the demand.

The Government should focus on training and capacity building for the poor. This will help to strengthen them, reduce poverty and strengthen the economy, he added.