A new initiative called 'Sahayog' was unveiled by Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Thursday. This programme aims to support the urban poor in Odisha and seeks to bring the benefits of existing government schemes directly to eligible residents.

The initiative will initially involve collaboration among eight departments to incorporate 13 schemes, including those related to housing (Awas yojana), ration card, and the ambitious Ayushman Bharat health card. From today, frontline workers will begin conducting door-to-door surveys over a two-month period.

Other social security schemes of the government covered under 'Sahayog' fold are Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Subhadra Yojana, registration for e-Shram Yojana, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Labour Card, PWD (Persons with Disabilities) Card, NFSA (National Food Security Act) Card, Garima, and piped water supply etc.

In its first phase, 'Sahayog' will operate in at least 44 urban areas across eight districts such as Khordha, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj. Subsequently, other districts of the State will be added to the 'Sahayog' initiative.

“The pilot project will initially be started in eight districts and gradually be expanded to the remaining ones in Odisha. At subsequent times, we also have plans to reach out to the rural poor in the State. The initiative will help include all economically backward people in the mainstream. The BJP-led Mohan Majhi government is a people’s ‘government’. It has always endeavoured to provide people with a better lifestyle,” the H&UD Minister said.

“Different welfare schemes of the State government are not benefiting the people without properly reaching the grassroots level. ‘Sahayog’ will be a helping hand to the poor people. Hence, the Department took up this initiative,” the H&UD Minister added.