Bhubaneswar, Sep 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said women empowerment is key to development of Odisha, while launching the State government's flagship initiative- “Subhadra Yojana”.

PM Modi, who turns 74 today, launched the Odisha government’s flagship women-centric initiative, Subhadra Yojana, besides other railway and national highway projects at a special progamme held at Janata Maidan here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, "In the first 100 days of the third NDA government, major steps were taken for uplift of the poor, farmers and youth along with the empowerment of women.

"Women's empowerment is key to Odisha's development," he said.

In his social media platform ‘X’, PM Modi said the Subhadra Yojana will boost women’s empowerment and ensure financial independence for our ‘Nari Shakti’.

Under the Subhadra Yojana, all eligible beneficiaries between the age group of 21-60 years would receive Rs 50,000 over a period of five years between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

Earlier, PM Modi along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited a slum area at Gadakana village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and interacted with 20 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban. He handed over the keys of their houses built under the Yojana to the beneficiaries.

The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation of railway projects worth 2,800 crore rupees and national highway projects worth more than 1,000 crore rupees.

PM also released the first installment of assistance of 3180 crore rupees to nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin of around 14 states during the programme.

Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Majhi, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, Deputy CMs Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi were, among others, present on the occasion.

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