Bhubaneswar, April 3 The Odisha government will soon release standard operating procedures (SOPs) for women and girl-centric initiatives such as the 'Kanya Sumangal' scheme, 'Subhadra Sambad', and 'Subhadra Wellness', said Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.
The initiatives are expected to help reduce female foeticide, an official said, adding that the objective is to empower girls through education and financial security by providing substantial support in adulthood.
While the 'Kanya Sumangal' scheme is separate, the other two initiatives, 'Subhadra Sambad' and 'Subhadra Wellness', fall under the state's flagship 'Subhadra Yojana', a women-centric financial assistance program. It already has over one crore beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has already announced the 'Kanya Sumangal' scheme in the state budget for 2026-27.
Parida, who is also in charge of the Women and Child Development department, said on Thursday, "The state government will deposit money in the name of the girl child within one year of her birth under the 'Kanya Sumangal' scheme, and the amount will increase to lakhs of rupees as the beneficiary reaches the age of 21."
She said the scheme aims to promote girl child education and help prevent child marriage, especially among families from economically weaker sections. The financial assistance is intended to ensure continuity in higher studies and reduce the economic burden on poor families.
The DyCM said that the details regarding eligibility criteria, the exact amount of deposit, the application process, and the disbursement timeline will be known after the release of the SOP.
Parida said that the 'Subhadra Sambad' and 'Subhadra Wellness' initiatives will be implemented alongside existing grassroots platforms such as Anganwadi centres.
The new 'Kanya Sumangal' scheme in Odisha will be implemented after the "Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana" and the 'Subhadra Yojana', launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state in 2024.