Guwahati | The Assam government is considering introducing an emergency advance facility of up to Rs 10,000 for beneficiaries of its flagship Orunodoi scheme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday.

The proposed initiative is aimed at enabling women beneficiaries to meet urgent financial needs during emergencies. Under the plan, the advance amount would be recovered through small monthly deductions from future Orunodoi payments.

Speaking at a programme, Sarma said the government was examining the proposal as part of its efforts to strengthen the social security net provided under the scheme.

The Chief Minister said financial assistance under Orunodoi is currently being provided to nearly 37 lakh women, with beneficiaries receiving Rs 9,000 from April onwards. He described the welfare programme as one of the government’s highest priorities in the current financial year.

Sarma also said the state government is working to link Orunodoi benefits with Aadhaar and ensure beneficiaries’ bank accounts are Aadhaar-seeded to curb fraudulent claims and ensure assistance reaches genuine recipients.

He noted that around 17,000 beneficiaries may experience temporary delays in receiving payments due to the ongoing Aadhaar-linking process. However, the government is taking measures to complete the process and ensure timely disbursal of benefits.

Meanwhile, Assam Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced that Orunodoi beneficiaries affected by the recent floods would receive an additional Rs 2,500 as financial assistance.

He also said nearly 36 lakh women associated with the scheme would contribute Rs 150 each towards flood relief efforts.

To improve the implementation of the programme, the government has assigned specific responsibilities to Orunodoi Sarathis, with one Sarathi designated for every locality to assist beneficiaries and help resolve issues related to the scheme.