Odisha government is running Mukta Scheme 2026, known officially as Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA), to give paid work to urban poor families in cities and towns. Workers registered under this urban job scheme now get a daily wage of ₹288 for unskilled or semi-skilled work, and the programme currently covers 115 urban local bodies across the state.
Mukta Yojana started as a temporary wage support plan during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and later turned into a full state scheme. Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department released revised guidelines for the scheme in October 2023, and it continues under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's government with a digital tracking tool called MUKTASoft used for wage payments and project monitoring.
Odisha Mukta Scheme 2026 Job Card Application
Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan or Mukta Yojana aims to give sustainable livelihood support to about 4.5 lakh urban poor families. It builds on the earlier Urban Wage Employment Initiative that was launched in April 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown, which helped informal workers across the state's urban local bodies through labour-intensive local projects.
Application for MUKTA job card is offline. Eligible urban poor households need to visit their nearest Ward Office or Municipal Corporation and submit a simple form along with basic documents. Here is how the process works.
STEP 1 - Visit the Ward Office or Municipal Corporation office in your urban local body and ask for the MUKTA job card application form.
STEP 2 - Fill the form with your household details and attach Aadhaar card, urban residence proof (ration card or a utility bill), and an Aadhaar-linked bank passbook copy.
STEP 3 - Submit the form at the ward office counter. Officials verify the details and issue the MUKTA job card, usually within 15 days.
STEP 4 - Once the job card is ready, workers can report for available work under the scheme, and wages get credited directly to the linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Eligibility for Mukta Job Card
Any urban poor household living in an Odisha city, town or municipality can apply for a MUKTA job card. There is no income limit fixed for this scheme, but priority is given to migrant labourers, daily wage workers and informal sector families who need regular income support. Adult members of the household who are willing to do unskilled or semi-skilled manual work are eligible to register.
Documents Required for Mukta Scheme
Keep these documents ready before visiting the ward office for job card registration.
- Aadhaar card of the applicant, used to verify identity and link bank payments.
- Proof of residence in an urban local body, such as a ration card, voter ID or a recent utility bill.
- Bank passbook copy with the account linked to Aadhaar, needed for DBT wage payment.
Here are the key details of Odisha Mukta Yojana at a glance.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA) / Odisha Mukta Yojana |
| Launched By | Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha |
| Beneficiaries | Urban poor households, migrant labourers and informal workers |
| Coverage | 115 Urban Local Bodies across Odisha |
| Daily Wage | ₹288 per day (2025-26) |
| Employment Guarantee | Up to 100 days per year per household |
| Application Mode | Offline, through Ward Office / Municipal Corporation |
| Payment Mode | Direct Benefit Transfer, within 15 days |
| Official Portal | urban.odisha.gov.in (Housing and Urban Development Department) |
Wages and Benefits Under Mukta Yojana
Workers under Mukta Yojana currently get ₹288 per day, and the scheme guarantees up to 100 days of paid work every year to each eligible household, similar to a rural job guarantee scheme but for cities. Odisha government approved ₹183.81 crore for the scheme in 2024-25, and by early 2024 more than 60,000 community projects had been taken up across the state with a total investment of about ₹1,000 crore, according to figures shared by the Chief Minister's Office. In the first phase itself, over 6,000 projects were completed with ₹70 crore spent, generating 13 lakh person-days of work, with women making up nearly 40 percent of the workers.
Works Carried Out Under MUKTA
Projects under Mukta Yojana are chosen based on local needs in each ward and mostly involve manual, labour-intensive work. Common activities include the following.
- Cleaning and repair of stormwater drains to reduce local flooding during heavy monsoon rain.
- Rainwater harvesting structures to recharge groundwater and refill ponds and reservoirs.
- Building new water bodies, public parks and playgrounds with walking tracks, lighting and toilets.
- Plantation drives, solid waste management, road repair and painting of public buildings.
Odisha Mukta Yojana Components
Odisha Mukta Yojana combines resources from ongoing welfare schemes with local community groups such as Mission Shakti self-help groups and slum dweller associations. Community assets worth more than ₹150 crore have come up under the scheme so far, mainly Parichaya centres and Mission Shakti Grihas, and the programme is expected to generate over 35 lakh person-days of work every year.
By involving local community groups in planning and execution, the scheme tries to reduce livelihood risks for the urban poor while also creating assets that hold up better during floods and heavy rain. Women self-help groups and slum development associations get a bigger say in choosing and running projects in their own wards.
Similar Employment Schemes in Other States
Madhya Pradesh had launched a similar urban employment scheme called Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana in April 2019, offering 100 days of guaranteed work every year to young people in cities, though it did not see much success in payouts. Jharkhand launched its own version in June 2020, called Mukhyamantri Shramik (Shahri Rozgar Manjuri For Kamgar) Yojna, for unskilled urban workers.
Odisha Support for Other Informal Sector Workers
Along with Mukta Yojana, Odisha government runs other support schemes for informal and daily wage workers. Workers can also check their Odisha Labour Card status for construction-related benefits, or look up their Odisha Job Card under the rural NREGA scheme, since many urban households have family members working under both rural and urban wage programmes. Anyone comparing the two can also check the NREGA Job Card List for the rural version of this employment guarantee.
FAQ's
What is Odisha Mukta Scheme?
Mukta Scheme, or Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan, is a state-run urban job scheme that gives paid work to urban poor households in Odisha's cities and towns, similar to a rural job guarantee scheme.
Who can apply for MUKTA job card?
Any urban poor household in an Odisha ULB can apply, with priority given to migrant labourers, daily wage workers and informal sector families. There is no fixed income limit.
How much wage is paid under Mukta Yojana?
Workers currently get ₹288 per day for 2025-26, paid through Direct Benefit Transfer within 15 days of completing work.
How many days of work does Mukta Scheme guarantee?
Eligible households can get up to 100 days of paid work in a year under the scheme, based on availability of local projects in their ward.
Is Mukta Yojana same as NREGA?
No. NREGA is a central rural job guarantee scheme, while Mukta Yojana is a separate state scheme run by Odisha government for urban local bodies only.
What is MUKTASoft?
MUKTASoft is the digital platform used by Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department to track MUKTA projects, worker attendance and wage payments across urban local bodies.
Source / Reference Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/odisha-govt-plans-to-launch-employment-scheme-for-urban-poor-101611422573713.html, urban.odisha.gov.in - MUKTA Revised Guidelines
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