In a heartening boost to women’s empowerment, the Odisha government today handed over the keys of a new car to Bhanupriya Behera, making her the seventh woman to become a proud car owner under the flagship ‘Ama Subahak’ (Atmanirbhar Mahila Subahak) scheme.
Bhanupriya, who completed her professional driving training at the Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTR) in Chhatia way back in 2019, is now set to hit the roads as an independent entrepreneur. The ceremonial key handover took place at Kharavela Bhawan in the presence of senior officials from the Commerce & Transport Department.
The ‘Ama Subahak’ scheme is transforming lives by helping women enter the transport sector with dignity and financial independence. Under the initiative, the state government provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh in partnership with banks. It also covers 10% of the car’s ex-showroom price as a down payment, bears the entire interest burden, and acts as a guarantor for credit charges — removing every major financial hurdle for aspiring women drivers.
So far, seven women have already become car owners through the programme. The government has allocated ₹46.66 crore to create 1,100 “Atmanirbhar Mahila Subahaka” across the state in the next four years. Priority is being given to women drivers from OSRTC and CRUT, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, and beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana.
Commerce & Transport Department Principal Secretary N.B.S. Rajput and Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur personally handed over the car keys to Bhunupriya and encouraged her to inspire more women to take the wheel.
This milestone is not just about one car — it’s about rewriting the narrative of women’s economic participation in Odisha. From training seats to driver’s seats, the state is ensuring that women are not just passengers in the journey of progress — they are now confidently driving it.
