Guwahati: The Assam government will appoint an Orunodoi Sarthi in every Assembly constituency to strengthen the implementation of its flagship welfare scheme and provide on-the-ground support to beneficiaries, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday.
The announcement was made during the state-level disbursement ceremony of the first financial assistance for the 2026-27 financial year under Orunodoi 3.0, held at the Srimanta Damodardeva International Auditorium in Panjabari, Guwahati.
Sarma said around 3.7 million women across the state will receive financial assistance under the scheme during the current financial year.
Explaining the role of the proposed Orunodoi Sarthi, the Chief Minister said each Assembly constituency will have a dedicated representative to help beneficiaries with enrolment, Aadhaar linkage, grievance redressal and other scheme-related issues, ensuring smoother delivery of welfare benefits at the grassroots.
He also announced that all bank accounts of Orunodoi beneficiaries have now been linked with Aadhaar to strengthen the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and ensure financial assistance reaches the intended recipients without delays or errors.
According to Sarma, mismatches between beneficiaries’ names and bank account details had affected fund transfers in several cases. The Aadhaar-bank linkage, he said, has been introduced to eliminate such discrepancies and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out.
The Chief Minister further said the government is developing a mechanism that will allow beneficiaries to access advance payments under the Orunodoi Scheme during financial emergencies.
The proposed facility is intended to help women meet urgent expenses without depending on moneylenders or high-interest loans.
In another initiative aimed at improving financial inclusion, Sarma said the government also plans to enable beneficiaries to use their monthly Orunodoi assistance for repayment of bank loan instalments, helping them build creditworthiness and improve access to institutional finance.
Speaking at the event, Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the Orunodoi Scheme has grown into one of the state’s most significant welfare initiatives, empowering women while contributing to the strengthening of Assam’s grassroots economy.
The programme was attended by MLAs Bijoy Gupta, Diplu Ranjan Sarma and Pradyut Bordoloi, Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Finance Department Commissioner and Secretary Jayanta Narlikar, along with ministers, legislators and senior government officials.
Representatives from the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, Panchayat institutions and municipal bodies also joined the programme through coordinated arrangements across the state.