Gopal Joshi, the BAPS pujari,
Appeal for Peace After Desecration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Melville, New York
local, state, and
Melville, New York: On September 16, 2024, we are saddened that we must once again appeal for peace in the face of hate and intolerance. Last night, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was desecrated with messages of hatred. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Similar acts of desecration have occurred at various Hindu Mandirs across North America.
We strongly condemn these acts and pray for peace amongst all communities. Peace, respect, and harmony for all regardless of background or faith are the bedrock of religious freedom in the United States.
We also offer our deepest prayers for those who perpetrated this crime to be released of their hatred and to see our common humanity.
The BAPS Mandir in Melville, New York, like all BAPS Mandirs worldwide, stands as a beacon of peace, harmony, equality, selfless service, and universal Hindu values. Upon learning of the hateful vandalism, the local authorities were called, and BAPS is working fully with the authorities to support their investigation into this hate crime.
Furthermore, our community members gathered today at the site of the desecration to offer prayers for peace and unity and were supported by local, state and federal leaders representing Long Island, including U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Deputy New York State Assembly Speaker Phil Ramos, New York State Senator Mario Mattera, New York State Assemblyman Keith Brown, New York State Assemblyman Steve Stern, Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy, Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin, Suffolk County Deputy Under Sheriff Keith Taylor, Suffolk County Police Precinct Supervisor William Scrima, Huntington Township Police Inspector Kevin Williams, Huntington Township Superintendent Andre Sorrentino, Huntington Township Supervisor Ed Smyth, Huntington Township Clerk Andrew Raia, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Allen Bode, North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Shrivastava, Babylon Township Councilman Dwayne Gregory and Rod Calarco, Representative of the Governor of New York.
Representatives from community organizations including NAACP President Tracey Edwards, Rabbi Susie Moskowitz from Temple Beth Torah, Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller from Temple Chaverim, Pastor Tom Johnson from St. Lutheran Church and Hassan Ahmed of Masjid Darul Quran as well as a representatives from American Jewish Committee and the various Hindu Mandirs in the area also were present to show their support – a powerful testament to our shared values of respect and unity.
In this challenging time, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has also offered his prayers for peace and harmony.
Girish Patel, a BAPS volunteer, addresses the assembly, sharing a message of peace.
Community members, along with
federal leaders from Long Island, stand united, promoting messages of peace.
PM Modi’s Visit to the USA
New York: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting the United States of America during 21-23 September 2024. During the visit, Prime Minister will take part in the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which is being hosted by the President of the United States of America, H.E. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on 21 September 2024. Following the request of the US side to host the Quad Summit this year, India has agreed to host the next Quad Summit in 2025.
At the Quad Summit, the leaders will review the progress achieved by the Quad over the last one year and set the agenda for the year ahead to assist the countries of the Indo-Pacific region in meeting their development goals and aspirations.
On 23 September, Prime Minister will address the ‘Summit of the
Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’. A large number of global leaders are expected to participate in the Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister would be holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders and discuss issues of mutual interest.
While in New York, Prime Minister will address a gathering of the Indian community on 22 September. Prime Minister would also be interacting with CEOs of leading US-based companies to foster greater collaborations between the two countries in the cutting-edge areas of AI, quantum computing, semiconductors and biotechnology. Prime Minister is also expected to interact with thought leaders and other stakeholders active in the India-US bilateral landscape.
Released on Bail, Kejriwal
New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal, the outgoing chief minister of Delhi, has announced that he will relinquish all government facilities, including security, and vacate his official residence within 15 days, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Wednesday. This comes a day after Kejriwal submitted his resignation from the chief minister’s post.
to be ‘Common’ Man
Speaking at a press conference, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh revealed that Kejriwal’s first decision after resigning was to leave his official bungalow at 6, Flagstaff Road.While initially, Singh mentioned that Kejriwal would move out within a week, AAP later clarified that he and his family would vacate the residence in 15 days.
Singh further noted that a search is underway for suitable accommodation for Kejriwal and his family. The AAP also posted on its official X handle and said, “Setting an example of honesty and sacrifice, Arvind Kejriwal will leave
the CM residence and also give up the government security.”Kejriwal will forgo all privileges provided to him as the chief minister, including his official residence, vehicles, and security detail, opting instead to live like a “common man.” Singh recalled that even when Kejriwal first became chief minister in 2013, he used to travel in an old blue Wagon R. There are concerns about Kejriwal’s security, as Singh highlighted, given that he has faced multiple attacks in the past. “He has old parents, his wife, and his children. We are all worried about their safety. We tried to explain to him that his security was at risk. Still, he has decided to move out,” Singh said. He also quoted Kejriwal, who
said, “I was in jail for six months among dreaded criminals, and God protected me and will continue to do so.”
Singh addressed allegations made by the BJP, accusing Kejriwal of corruption, and said the party was trying to tarnish his reputation. “Had Kejriwal been a ‘typical thickskinned’ leader, he would not have bothered about it and continued to occupy the chair. We know the condition of other leaders. If they get any facility, they continue to enjoy them for years after resignation and fight for keeping official residence but Kejriwal has decided that he will vacate his house,” Singh said.
Singh concluded by saying that the people of Delhi must now decide whether to support Kejriwal’s honesty. “Arvind Kejriwal is the first leader in the history of India who is saying with pride that ‘if I am honest, vote for me, else not’,” he asserted.
Arvind Kejriwal resigned on Tuesday, and AAP leader Atishi has since staked her claim to form the next Delhi government.
61.1% Turnout Recorded in Phase 1 of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls
SriNagar: Jammu and Kashmir voted for the first time in 10 years today, with ballots being cast in 24 of 90 constituencies as part of phase one of polling. A voter turnout of 61.1% has been recorded, Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said.
This is the first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014 and its first since the removal of Article 370, which gave the erstwhile state special status, in 2019. This is also the first time that Jammu and Kashmir will see an Assembly election as a Union Territory. When Article 370 was abrogated, the state was also divided into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Statehood is a major issue in the elections and its restoration has been promised by the BJPincluding by PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah - as well as the Congress and the National Conference, which are contesting the polls in an alliance.
Another major player is Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party and other parties include Abdul Ghani Lone’s People’s Conference, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s
SPORTS
Democratic Progressive Azad Party and Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party. An interesting development is the entry in the elections of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, which is backing some candidates.
Polling was held in four seats in Pulwama, two in Shopian, three in Kulgam, seven in Anantnag, three in Kishtwar, three in Doda and
two each in Ramban and Banihal. Eight of the constituencies are in Jammu and 16 in the Kashmir valley.
Pulwama is one of the constituencies where the contest is being keenly watched. PDP youth leader Waheed ur Rehman Para, who is contesting his first election is up against former party veteran
Mohammad Khalil Band, who is now with the National Conference. Mr Para, 36, had campaigned for Mr Band as a youth leader from the PDP in the 2008 and 2014 elections and is on bail in a case under the stringent anti-terror act, UAPA. Mr Band, 73, is a threetime MLA The seat is considered a PDP stronghold but the party faces an uphill battle this time, also because Talat Majeed, who is backed by the Jamaat, is contesting from there. The Jamaat is in an alliance with the Awami Ittehad Party of Engineer Rashid, who had scripted a spectacular upset with his victory over National Conference Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency in South Kashmir will
see PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, contesting her first Assembly election after the former chief minister refused to enter the electoral fray. Ms Mufti, 37, is up against National Conference’s Bashir Ahmad Shah and the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir Vice President Sofi Yousuf. In Kulgam, the CPM’s Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami is looking to defend a seat he has won since 1996, but is facing a very different challenge in the form of a candidate backed by the Jamaat. Speaking to NDTV, Mr Tarigami, who is the Congress-National Conference consensus candidate, had said this is not the first time the Jamaat has made a U-turn in terms of entering electoral politics and insisted that there is no “green wave” in the red citadel.
Jammu and Kashmir has seen a spurt in terror incidents in recent months and three encounters took place last week in which two Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were killed in action and at least five terrorists were shot dead. -- NDTV
Sparkling Ashwin-Jadeja Rearguard Hurts Bangladesh in First Test in Chennai
CheNNai: Ravichandran Ashwin notched up his 6th Test century as he along with Ravindra Jadeja dug India out of a hole against Bangladesh in the 1st day of the 1st Test in Chennai on Thursday.
The allrounder took 108 deliveries to reach the milestone, peppering in 10 fours and 2 sixes in the innings as Bangladesh were clueless on how to handle the duo.
Ashwin came into the mix when India were teetering at 144/6 with most of India’s recognized batters were back into the pavilion with Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0) and Virat Kohli (6) failing to leave a lasting impact. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal held fort with 56 runs but he was also dismissed while Rishabh Pant (39) and KL Rahul (16) also following him.
Talking about his knock, Ashwin said, “It’s an old Chennai surface with a bit of bounce and carry. The red soil pitch allows you to play a few shots if you are willing to just get in line and give it a bit of a tonk when there’s width.”
“Of course, I have always been wafting my bat around outside off-stump. Worked on a few things and on a surface like this with a bit of spice, if you’re going after the ball, might as well go after it really hard like Rishabh does,” he added.
Earlier, Jaiswal’s patient fifty was an exception when other Indian top-order batters failed the test of character that the Bangladeshi bowlers put them through, as the hosts found themselves on
the ropes at 176 for six at tea.
Jaiswal made a solid 56 off 118 balls with nine fours amid the damage caused by pacer Hasan Mahmud (4/35).
The Indian batting effort was quite perplexing as neither the pitch nor the bowlers posed any significant challenges, barring the odd moments of difficulty that are part and parcel of Test cricket.
But the home side batters simply did not ace them, as their dismissals appeared more the result of lapse in concentration.
The departure of Jaiswal and Pant, who added 62 runs off 99 balls for the fourth wicket, stood as a validation for that.
Pant, who looked fluent in the
opening session, played a lame waft outside off Mahmud to give an easy catch to stumper Litton Das, ending the first part of the left-hander’s return to Test cricket in 83 minutes.
Jaiswal, the most assured among the India batters on the day, raised his fifty off 95 balls when he turned Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a single, and he looked good for some more.
But a sudden rush of blood pushed the commonsense behind, as Jaiswal went for a drive off Nahid Rana that went straight to Shadman Islam at first slip.
KL Rahul was consumed by off-spinner Mehidy for 16 as India tumbled to 144 for six before
Ashwin and Jadeja temporarily checked the free fall.
Ashwin reached an extraordinary feat during the opening day of the first Test match between India and Bangladesh in Chennai on Thursday.
He accomplished the rare distinction of being only the second player ever to amass 1000 runs and claim 100 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC).
Ashwin joined compatriot Ravindra Jadeja in the exclusive club. 1x1 polls
Jadeja’s accomplishment came during a Test match against England earlier this year, making him the first player to reach this landmark.
In the history of the WTC, 11 bowlers have achieved the feat of taking more than 100 wickets. However, among these elite bowlers, only Jadeja and Ashwin have managed to accomplish the remarkable milestone of scoring 1000 runs in addition to their bowling exploits.
Ashwin is also on the verge of
creating history as he has the opportunity to surpass Australian spinner Nathan Lyon and become the leading wicket-taker in WTC. With just 14 wickets separating him from Lyon’s impressive tally of 187, Ashwin is poised to etch his name in the record books. The upcoming matches against Bangladesh provide the perfect platform for the Indian superstar to showcase his exceptional skills and claim the top spot.
Furthermore, Ashwin is also on the cusp of another remarkable feat. If he manages to secure at least one five-wicket haul during the series, he will stand alone as the first player to achieve this milestone 11 times in WTC history.
Ashwin notched up his sixth Test hundred, finishing the day on 102 not out. India concluded the day’s play at 339/6, with Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja forging an unbroken partnership.
The duo put on an impressive 195 runs off just 227 deliveries, with Jadeja contributing a valuable 86 runs and remaining not out alongside Ashwin at the close of play.
The series kicked off with a two-match Test series, followed by a thrilling three-match T20 International (T20I) series.
The second Test match will take place from September 27 to October 1 at Green Park in Kanpur, a ground known for its riveting encounters. -- Cricinfo, etc.
OBITUARY ENTERTAINMENT
IAA 2024: Stellar Performances by Sonam Kalra
h ou S to N : The IndoAmerican Association (IAA) celebrated the successful completion of its 2024 season with two captivating performances by the internationally acclaimed Coke Studio artist, Sonam Kalra, over the weekend of September 7 and 8. The unique shows mesmerized Houston audiences with their exceptional blend of music, poetry and storytelling.
sible to all.
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
Ibadat, a musical performance blending Sufi, Gospel, and Sikh prayers, was held on Saturday, September 7, at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center. Introducing the artist, Sheetal Bedi, the CEO and Executive Director of IAA, said, “Sonam is not just a performer. She is a messenger of love, peace and
unity … Her music speaks the universal language of oneness, something our world needs now more than ever before.” Sonam’s soulful voice and original music scores created an unforgettable evening of transcendent music, which deeply moved the audience. Sonam’s charisma shone bright as she interacted with the audience, translating and beautifully explaining the poetry she sang, making the music acces-
On Sunday, September 8, Sonam presented Sarhad at MATCHBOX 4, an evocative performance blending music and theater, dedicated to stories of separation and hope from the Partition of India in 1947. This emotionally charged performance recounted the harrowing tales of survivors of the Partition, and there was not a dry eye in the hall as the audience relived their heartwrenching memories. Sonam’s poignant storytelling, combined with her musical brilliance, captured the raw emotions of separation and loss, yet concluded with messages of hope and resilience. The performance received a standing ovation, leaving a lasting impact on all those in attendance.
Indo American News
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Request for sub-contractor proposals for FBISD Clements High School Rebuild (Demolition, Earthwork, Site Utilities, Building & Site Concrete)
“Durotech, Inc., as Construction Manager at Risk, on behalf of Fort Bend I.S.D, will receive sub-contractor/vendor proposals for the Clements High School Rebuild project, as designed by DLR Group for the following scopes of work – Demolition, Earthwork, Site Utilities, Building & Site Concrete.
Proposals and qualification statements will be received by Durotech, Inc., from interested proposers, sub-proposers and suppliers until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 in the presence of the Owner and Architect at the offices of Durotech, Inc. at 11931 Wickchester Lane, #205, Houston, TX 77043-4501, Phone: 281-558-6892 and Fax: 281496-5637. Construction Manager Contact: Sidhesh Kakodkar/Julian Ciarella.
Drawings and Specifications will be available for review at the offices of Durotech, Inc., and at the plan rooms of AGC, Dodge Data & Analytics, Virtual Builders Exchange, Brazos Valley Contractors Association, Construction Data and CMD Group. Prevailing wage rates in conformance with State of Texas law will be paid on this project. All proposals shall remain valid for sixty (60) days.
The Owner, Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any informalities and irregularities in the proposal process, and to make the awards in the best interest of the owner. By submitting a proposal, each proposer agrees to waive any claim it has or may have against the Owner, the Architect/ Engineer, Construction Manager and their respective employees arising out of or in connection with the administration, evaluation, or recommendation of any proposal; waiver of any requirements under the Proposal Documents, or the Contract. Documents; acceptance or rejection of any proposals; and award of a Contract.”
Sonam Kalra and musicians perform during Sarhad on September 8
Courtesy: Golden Ray Photography
Sewa’s 4th Annual Charity Golf Event Triumphs with Resounding Success
houStoN: Sewa International’s annual charity golf event, held in remembrance of 9/11, celebrated its fourth year at the scenic Clear Creek Golf Course in Houston.
Anup Bhasin, Joint Coordinator of Sewa International Houston, warmly welcomed the golfers and guests, introducing Dan Davis, the Mayor of Manvel, one of the youngest mayors in the country. Mayor Davis highlighted Manvel’s growth, noting that the city issues an average of 800-1,000 new residential permits annually and has 13 capital projects underway, valued at over $100 million. He also emphasized collaboration with various organizations to meet the community’s needs before taking the ceremonial first shot of the day using a custom Sewa-branded golf ball.
The tournament followed a fourperson scramble format, with 23 teams and 92 participants from across Houston competing for top honors. Notable teams included an all-women team, a team from the Pearland Police Department, and a team of high school girls. Sewa International partnered again with “Backswing Golf Events” this year to bring back the popular ‘Beat the Pro’ challenge, with Hannah Sirdashaney as the pro to beat at hole 5, adding extra excitement to the event.
The award ceremony was opened by Rashmi Singh, who shared how Sewa had responded to Hurricane
Beryl by assisting over 300 families across five counties, providing more than 3,000 hot meals, 1,200 gallons of water, 2,400+ volunteer hours, and $100,000 in aid. She called on everyone to support the underserved communities in Brazoria, particularly the Cambodian community in Rosharon, who urgently need help repairing 80 greenhouses and 10 water wells damaged by the hurricane. Rashmi emphasized Sewa’s guiding principle of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam,’ a Sanskrit phrase meaning ‘the
world is one family,’ encouraging others to adopt this belief. She highlighted Sewa’s commitment to serving all without discrimination, as reflected in their tagline, ‘Together We Serve Better.
The prizes were presented by Rushi Patel, Pearland’s first Asian-American city council member, and Elizabeth Gerbel, owner of EAG Services. Rushi praised Sewa, calling it an “amazing cause supporting families in Brazoria County.” Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for being
invited and shared how she connected with Sewa through their summer internship program. She also discussed her background in the oil and gas industry and how it helps broaden outreach opportunities for Sewa.
This event was meticulously conceived, orchestrated, and executed by a dedicated team of Sewa volunteers, with a significant portion of them being enthusiastic high school youth. They wholeheartedly gathered on a splendid late summer day to lend their
support to this noble cause. The funds raised will go towards charitable service projects in Houston, as well as hurricane relief efforts, particularly for underserved communities in Brazoria County. Several families from the Cambodian community in Rosharon, who will benefit from these funds, attended the award ceremony and expressed their heartfelt gratitude.
This remarkable gathering represented the fruition of months of extensive planning, thorough preparation, and relentless dedication, all masterminded by the Sewa organizing team under the capable leadership of Anup Bhasin and Jaivijay Ramu. With a record number of teams and participants this year, their vision is to expand the event further and make it even more impactful in the future. They expressed deep gratitude to all the sponsors, including EAG (Silver Sponsor), Navigature, Will and Beth Ruiz, and the Law Office of Leena Bhasin (Bronze Sponsors), as well as Deep Foods, Monks Restaurant, Alpha Juice, Preetam Deshmukh, Honest Restaurant, and Akshaya Catering (Priyanka and Bhagavath), for their generous support. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Dan Davis, Councilman Rushi Patel, all the sponsors, players, supporting organizations, and volunteers for making this event a tremendous success,” they said.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Berlin’: A Refreshing, Powerful Spy Thriller
Set in 1993 in New Delhi, Berlin is about a deaf-mute young man arrested as a suspected spy and murderer. A sign language expert is called in to help but soon finds himself caught up in a dangerous and complex web of espionage. With rival agencies and other hidden forces at play, a twist turns the case on its head: is the real spy hiding in plain sight?
Review: What makes a good spy? Jagdish Sondhi (Rahul Bose), the head of the Soviet Desk at the intelligence agency called Bureau, believes it’s sharp vision, hearing, and fit body. Yet, a scrawny and deaf-mute Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) is suspected of being a German spy involved in a murder and an assassination conspiracy during Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s Indian visit in 1993. Pushkin Verma (Aparshakti Khurana), a teacher at a school for the deaf and mute, is appointed to interrogate Ashok. However, as the former delves deeper into the case, he discovers the shadowy truth about spies, bureaucracy, and politics as his ideas of nationalism change.
The thriller’s refreshing aspect is its authentic story, departing from the India-neighbourhood rivalry trope. Instead, it opts for a more nuanced exploration of internal politics, one-upmanship between intelligence agencies (Wing and
Bureau), and what power dynamics can do to unsuspecting bystanders.
The A-team of writer-director Atul Sabharwal, editor Irene Dhar Malik, cinematographer Shreedutta Namjoshi, composer Krishna Kumar, and sound designer Anthony Ruban crafts a high-stakes game of espionage that will keep you on the edge of your seats throughout. The clever narrative is about the business of information trading and how the hearing and speech impaired are used as ‘walls’ between these ‘businessmen’ at a coffee house called Berlin. The title also alludes to the collapse of the Berlin Wall shortly before the movie’s setting.
Ishwak Singh shines as he conveys emotions through his eyes and body language. Aparshakti Khurana is equally impressive as a simple teacher caught in the crossfire, bringing empathy and a quest for truth to the narrative. As both actors deliver brilliant character
arcs, their understated connection is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Rahul Bose is impressive as a suave, wily, and sharp agent — he may not know the sign language, but Pushkin and Ishwak cannot fool him.
The film’s suspenseful reveal is underwhelming, and the plot twist is predictable. Also, the attempts at cat-and-mouse thrills within the Bureau’s office fail to fly effectively. Still, the world-building, visual style, atmospheric tension, and intricate details make up for the minor missteps. The film seamlessly integrates themes of pain and loneliness, adding depth to the narrative without straying from the overarching theme of a spy drama.
Despite some flaws, Berlin is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling and character development. It is a must-watch for fans of spy thrillers and those seeking a film that offers more than just surfacelevel excitement... -- TNN
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Odisha’s Subhadra Scheme Launched by PM Modi on His Birthday
bhubaNeSwar: Under the scheme, Rs 10,000 will be transferred to the bank accounts of women beneficiaries in two instalments every year.
On September 17, his 74th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Subhadra Yojana, the Odisha government’s scheme to transfer Rs 10,000 per year to eligible women beneficiaries in the state between the ages of 21 and 60.
The Mohan Charan Majhi government has planned a massive congregation of women from across the state at Bhubaneswar’s Janata Maidan for the launch of the scheme. Arrangements have been made to telecast the PM’s program live at the panchayat and block levels.
Awareness drives are being organised statewide, and all government departments have been asked to use the Subhadra logo in their official communication and social media handles.
Subhadra scheme
The scheme is named after Goddess Subhadra, the younger sibling of Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Odisha. Lord Jagannath, who is deeply revered in the 90%Hindu state, is always depicted as part of a triad of deities that includes Subhadra and their oldest sibling, Balabhadra.
Over five years until 2028-29,
the scheme will provide more than 1 crore women across the state with financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually. The transfers will be made in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each, on Rakhi Purnima (Raksha Bandhan, which typically falls in August), and International Women’s Day (March 8). Festive offer
More than 50 lakh women have already registered for the scheme. How it will work
The money will be deposited directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank account. The government has made e-KYC mandatory for the
scheme. A Subhadra Debit Card will be issued to the beneficiaries.
A total 100 beneficiaries with the highest number of digital transactions in each gram panchayat and urban local body area will receive an additional incentive of Rs 500.
Women from economically well-off families, government employees, and income-tax payees will not be eligible for the scheme. Women who receive assistance of Rs 1,500 or more per month (or Rs 18,000 or more per year) under any other government scheme will also be excluded.
Banks, post offices, and common service centres across Odisha have
been witnessing a rush of women to enrol for the scheme or to update their Aadhaar details. There is no last date to register; the process will continue until all eligible beneficiaries have been registered.
Financing the scheme
Official sources said the government has budgeted for Rs 55,825 crore for the scheme for five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29. For the current (2024-25) financial year, a sum of Rs 10,000 crore has been kept aside for the scheme.
Officers in the state finance department said there will be no financial constraints for the scheme, on which the government will re-
main focused.
The political context
The Subhadra scheme was the flagship promise of the BJP ahead of the elections to the Assembly and Parliament, which ended 24 years of BJD rule and produced victories for the BJP in 20 of the state’s 21 Lok Sabha seats.
Women, especially the 70 lakh members of some 6 lakh women’s self-help groups (WSHGs) organised under Mission Shakti, were the biggest factor behind the BJD’s electoral success for 24 years. Mission Shakti was launched in 2001 to empower women by providing them with credit and market linkages, and it had over the years managed to create a committed vote bank of women for the BJD.
To counter the BJD’s Mission Shakti program, the BJP proposed a scheme of direct money transfer (DBT) in its election manifesto, promising to give a voucher of Rs 50,000 to every woman beneficiary, which could be encashed in two years. BJP workers collected details of women in a certain format during the election campaign and assured them of its implementation immediately after the party came to power, which got much traction on the ground.
The government cleared the implementation of the scheme, with a few changes to its election promise, within hours of taking oath on June 12. -- Indian Express
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