Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: In an effort to empower women and boost employment, the Odisha government has announced the launch of the Ama Subahaka Yojana, a scheme designed to support women in becoming professional taxi drivers and entrepreneurs within the transport sector.

Under the program, 1,100 women will receive financial assistance over four years to purchase cars for use as taxis. Each eligible woman will be able to avail of a bank loan of up to ₹10 lakh, which will be repayable over five years. The government will cover the interest at a rate of 11% per annum.

The scheme will be implemented in phases, starting with 200 women receiving cars in the first year. Women who choose electric vehicles (EVs) will also be granted an additional ₹2 lakh incentive to encourage green mobility.

The program is targeted at women between the ages of 21 and 40, and as of now, 6,216 women in Odisha have completed driving training. This initiative aims to foster financial independence among women and promote eco-friendly transport solutions.