Odisha govt cracks down on fee demands for Subhadra Yojana registration

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has issued a strong warning to service providers, including Anganwadi workers, Jan Seva Kendras, and Mo Seva Kendras, prohibiting them from charging fees for the Subhadra Yojana registration process.

The Women and Child Development Department has clarified that both application forms and online registrations are free of charge.

Despite this directive, there have been reports of service providers demanding between Rs. 50 and Rs. 200 for these services. In response, the government has swiftly intervened.

For example, in Balasore, an Anganwadi worker’s salary has been withheld for failing to distribute application forms. Additionally, a Jan Seva Kendra in Kendrapara district has been temporarily shut down for charging fees, and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation has taken action against a Jana Seva Kendra in Athagarh for similar misconduct.

The government compensates service centers with Rs. 15 per form, plus GST, for tasks such as processing, scanning, and uploading. Citizens are encouraged to report any instances of fee demands to the police.

As of today, more than 15 lakh Subhadra Yojana forms have been registered across Odisha.