The Odisha government will soon release a standard operating procedure (SOP) for women and girl child-centric initiatives like the ‘Kanya Sumangal’ scheme, ‘Subhadra Sambad’, and ‘Subhadra Wellness’, as announced by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida. These initiatives are expected to help reduce female foeticide and aim to empower girls through education and financial security by providing substantial support in adulthood.

While the Kanya Sumangal scheme is distinct, the other two initiatives, Subhadra Sambad and Subhadra Wellness, fall under the state’s flagship Subhadra Yojana, which is a women-centric financial assistance program already benefiting over one crore individuals. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had previously announced the Kanya Sumangal scheme in the state budget for 2026-27.

Parida, who oversees the Women and Child Development department, stated 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 would grow into lakhs of rupees as the beneficiary reaches the age of 21 years.” She emphasized that the scheme aims to promote girl child education and prevent child marriage, particularly among families from economically weaker sections. The financial assistance is designed to support higher education and alleviate the economic burden on impoverished families.

The Deputy Chief Minister noted that details regarding eligibility criteria, the exact amount of deposit, application processes, and disbursement timelines will be clarified following the release of the SOP. Furthermore, she mentioned 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 rolled out following the “Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana” and the Subhadra Yojana, which were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state in 2024.