Orunodoi: Assam’s Cash-Transfer Scheme for Women

Basics

• Orunodoi is Assam’s cash-transfer scheme for women heads of low-income households.
• It was launched on 2 October 2020, under CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
• It now pays ₹1,250 a month to over 37 lakh women.

Who qualifies

• Women from AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) families.
• Aged 16 to 59.
• Annual household income under ₹2 lakh.

The name

• “Orunodoi” means “sunrise” in Assamese.
• The name signals a fresh start.

Rate history

• It began at ₹830 a month for about 17 lakh families.
• The first beneficiaries were widows, unmarried women, divorcees and divyang persons.
• A 14 December 2022 hike, Orunodoi 2.0, raised it to ₹1,000.
• Orunodoi 3.0 (October 2025) raised it to ₹1,250.

How the advance works

• Women can withdraw part of their yearly assistance in advance.
• The Chief Minister said repayment is in ₹200 monthly instalments.
• An Orunodoi Sarathi will help women in every Assembly constituency and handle complaints.
• An Aadhaar verification system was added to cut fraud.

The August 2026 disbursement

• On 1 August 2026, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the first 2026-27 payment under Orunodoi 3.0.
• It reached more than 37 lakh women at ₹1,250 each.
• The version itself dates from October 2025.
• Payments are now Aadhaar-linked, to prevent duplicate names.
• Women in the flood-hit districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat got an immediate extra ₹2,500.
• Beneficiaries each gave ₹150 towards flood relief, according to a report on the launch.

Payment

• Money goes into the woman’s bank account by Direct Benefit Transfer.
• See all states in the state-by-state directory.

A “largest scheme” claim

• CM Himanta Biswa Sarma called Orunodoi 3.0 the largest welfare scheme in Assam since independence.
• That is a political claim, not an audited figure.

Timed with elections

• Orunodoi began shortly before Assam’s 2021 election, which the BJP-led NDA won.
• Orunodoi 3.0 came before the 2026 election.

The 2026 election

• Assam voted in a single phase on 9 April 2026.
• Turnout was 85.38%.
• The BJP-led NDA won 102 of 126 seats.
• Congress’s CM face, Gaurav Gogoi, lost his seat in Jorhat.

Compare

• Bihar’s Mahila Rojgar Yojana also came just before an election.
• Read the state profile in Assam.

Transfers and results

• On 10 March 2026, Assam transferred ₹9,000 each to 40 lakh women, worth ₹3,600 crore. (Source: Akashvani News, 10 March 2026)
• Results on 4 May 2026 gave the NDA its third straight term. (Source: DD News, 4 May 2026)

New loan features

• On 1 August 2026, Assam resumed payments for FY2026-27 to 37 lakh women. (Source: Daily Pioneer, 1 August 2026)
• Women can draw up to ₹15,000 as an interest-free advance, repaid from later instalments.
• They can also pledge future payments to secure a bank loan. (Source: Assam Tribune, 1 August 2026)
• Women in four flood-hit districts got an extra ₹2,500: Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat and Jorhat.