suparjya swain 
Bhubaneswar: In a bid to streamline the delivery of government welfare schemes to the urban poor, the Odisha government launched the ‘Sahajog’ initiative on Thursday. The initiative, unveiled by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, aims to make it easier for people in urban areas to access a wide range of benefits provided by the state government.
The first phase of the ‘Sahajog’ initiative will be rolled out in 44 municipalities across eight districts, including Khordha, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj. The initiative is expected to benefit a significant number of urban poor residents, helping them connect to welfare schemes more efficiently.
Under this program, 13 major welfare schemes from eight government departments will be integrated into one seamless system. Key schemes included in the initiative are the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), Ayushman Bharat Card, the differently-abled identity card, Subhadra Yojana, the labour card, Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, and Sukanya Yojana, among others. Minister Mohapatra highlighted that the scope of the initiative will expand in the future, adding more schemes to ensure broader coverage.
To ensure smooth implementation, frontline workers, in collaboration with the Tata Foundation Trust, will conduct door-to-door surveys in the designated municipalities. These surveys will help identify eligible beneficiaries and assist them in accessing the relevant government schemes. The first phase of the initiative is set to run for two months, from May 1 to June 30, 2025.
Minister Mohapatra also noted that the government plans to introduce a mobile application to further streamline access to the schemes. This app will connect beneficiaries directly with the welfare services they are eligible for, allowing for easier tracking and management.
As part of the launch, Minister Mohapatra emphasized that the initiative would be conducted in a campaign mode to ensure maximum outreach and to raise awareness among urban residents. He assured that the program would help address gaps in service delivery and improve the efficiency of welfare scheme distribution.
Looking ahead, the state government plans to extend the ‘Sahajog’ initiative to rural areas in the near future, ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach all eligible citizens, regardless of their location.
With the launch of ‘Sahajog,’ the Odisha government is taking significant steps toward improving the accessibility and efficiency of welfare programs, ensuring that the urban poor have greater access to vital services and financial support.
