Press Releases
CM Distributes First Instalment of Rs.75,000 to 25,238 Selected Entrepreneurs under the Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbhar Assam Abhiyan
Date :30.09.2024, 17:00 PM
Assam Progressing Towards a New Era of Transparency: CM ---- Dispur, 30 September: In a significant move aimed at empowering the youth and fostering a self-reliant Assam, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today distributed the first instalment of Rs. 75,000 to 25,238 entrepreneurs under the Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbhar Assam Abhiyan at the Veterinary College Field, Guwahati.
It may be noted that under this initiative, entrepreneurs with general qualifications would receive a total of Rs. 2 lakhs, of which Rs. 1 lakh would be provided as a grant and the remaining Rs. 1 lakh as a loan. Entrepreneurs with professional qualifications, such as those holding degrees in engineering or medicine, are eligible for Rs. 5 lakhs, with Rs. 2.5 lakh as a grant and Rs. 2.5 lakh as a loan. In today's distribution, 25,064 entrepreneurs with general qualifications and 147 with professional qualifications received the first instalment of Rs. 75,000. The beneficiaries represented a wide range of sectors, including 1,156 individuals engaged in agriculture and horticulture, 502 in fabrication or hardware businesses, 3,522 in aquaculture, 4,855 in services and other miscellaneous sectors, 326 in packaging, 21 in bamboo and other plant species cultivation, 10,321 in poultry and livestock farming, 1,015 in garment manufacturing, 654 in self-employment through vocational education, 2,509 in the paper and stationery business, and 163 in wood-based furniture enterprises. The funds disbursed under this scheme are aimed at helping these entrepreneurs take their first significant steps towards self-employment.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling its election promises. He stated that the present state government had pledged to provide 1 lakh government jobs, a promise that has been successfully fulfilled with the recruitment of 1 lakh candidates. Furthermore, the state government has gone beyond this pledge by providing an additional 40,000 government jobs. He mentioned the successful completion of several recruitment drives, including the Assam Direct Recruitment Exam, teacher recruitment, and ongoing police recruitment, all of which have boosted the morale of the state’s youth. Emphasising transparency, Dr. Sarma noted that each recruitment process has been conducted without any malpractices, thereby instilling trust in the system. He shared that the state government has eradicated corruption in recruitment, from Anganwadi workers to ASHA workers, as well as in the Assam Public Service Commission. The Assam Direct Recruitment Exam, in particular, has set new standards by allowing candidates to take home their question papers and providing the option of accessing OMR sheets for verification. According to the CM, Assam is leaving behind an era of corruption and negativity and is now on the path to peace, stability, and development.
Assam prepares to ensure the provision of free food grains to over 2.5 crore people by the year 2025 :-CM announces via social media platform X
Date :28.09.2024, 21:37 PM
Dispur, 28 September : In a ground-breaking initiative to secure nutritional coverage for over 70% of its population, the Government of Assam is on a vital mission to enhance food security across the state. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma took to the social media platform X today to share this information.
It may be noted that with a targeted beneficiary count of 2,51,89,775 under NFSA'13, this ambitious drive aims to uplift the lives of countless individuals and families. In January 2024, the Assam government successfully enrolled over 42 lakh new beneficiaries, bringing the total number of eligible individuals to an impressive 2.31 crore. Notably, 98% of these beneficiaries receive their free food grains every month, underscoring the efficiency and commitment of the state’s food distribution system.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that to ensure that no one is left behind, the Government of Assam has launched a comprehensive drive to enlist new beneficiaries across all 126 constituencies. This initiative takes into account individuals previously excluded for not having Aadhaar, related to the issue of NRC biometric lock. All newly enlisted beneficiaries would be added to the Priority Household (PHH) category, ensuring that the most vulnerable receive essential support. The entire enrolment process is expected to conclude by November, further solidifying Assam's commitment to food security.
A key highlight of this distribution effort is the introduction of Anna Sewa Din, a dedicated period from the 1st to the 10th of every month, earmarked specifically for the distribution of food grains. This innovative approach has led to numerous benefits, including timely disbursement, no pilferage, accurate record-keeping, and doorstep delivery for divyangjans.
Dr. Sarma stated that with the addition of over 17 lakh new beneficiaries, alongside nearly 2 lakh beneficiaries previously deleted from the NRC and those under the State pool, Assam is set to ensure that over 2.5 crore people are entitled to free food grains by 2025. This initiative embodies the Antyodaya approach, focusing on serving the poor and marginalised sections of society.
The Government of Assam is committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to nutritious food, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable future for all, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said.
CM distributes appointment letters to 300 candidates
Date :28.09.2024, 11:33 AM
Dispur, September 26: In a continued push for transparent and merit-based recruitment, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today distributed appointment letters to 300 candidates at a function held at the Guwahati Medical College Auditorium. Among those receiving letters were 81 Assistant Engineers (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical) in the Public Health Engineering Department, 100 Urban Technical Officers and 101 Financial Management Officers in the Housing & Urban Affairs Department, along with 12 Senior Scientist Officers and 6 Junior Officers in the Directorate of Forensic Science. With these new appointments, the total number of recruits under the present state government has soared to 1,24,645.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sarma reflected on a promise made during the BJP's election campaign- to provide 1 lakh government jobs if elected. Not only has the state government fulfilled this promise, but they have surpassed it, recruiting an additional 24,645 candidates, he added. He acknowledged that at one time, engineering colleges in Assam were steeped in frustration, with many graduates forced to seek employment outside the state. However, in the last three years, a significant number of engineers have been hired across various departments, including Public Works, Public Health Engineering, and Rural Development.
The Chief Minister attributed the surge in recruitment to an increase in the state’s capital expenditure, which has created opportunities for engineers to contribute to key projects. One such initiative is the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which aims to deliver safe drinking water to every village and household through piped water. Dr. Sarma stressed that ensuring clean drinking water could greatly reduce the burden on the Health Department. Mentioning the soon-to-be-completed Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge as an example of Assam’s growing infrastructure portfolio, he highlighted that while infrastructure is important, maintaining it and keeping it operational is a much bigger challenge. The Chief Minister also spoke about the on-going semiconductor plant at Jagiroad, urging Assam's youth to seize the opportunities it would bring. He noted that urbanisation is a key sign of progress for the state, and that the recent recruitment has been entirely based on merit, upholding transparency throughout the process. Dr. Sarma called upon the newly appointed officers to work with dedication for the state's development. He highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening forensic science, noting the increased number of convictions and charge sheets in recent years. The State government has increased the number of forensic laboratories to six, while plans are underway to set up a National University of Forensic Science.
The event was attended by Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs etc. Ashok Singhal, Minister of Public Health Engineering Jayanta Mallabaruah, Secretary of Housing & Urban Affairs Department Pabitra Ram Khaund, Secretary of Public Works Engineering Department Kailash Karthik, and other officials of the Assam Government.
Chief Minister attends pivotal meeting with the 16th Finance Commission
Date :28.09.2024, 11:29 AM
Dispur, September 26: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today attended a pivotal meeting of the 16th Finance Commission and the Assam Government at Lok Sewa Bhawan.
It may be noted that the engagement, part of the Commission's four-day visit to Assam, began yesterday as the delegation touched down in Guwahati. They met with Dr. Sarma in his office to discuss a wide array of financial matters crucial to Assam’s future.
Later, in the presence of the Chief Minister, a crucial meeting took place between the seven-member Finance Commission team, led by Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, and Assam’s Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Secretary, and senior officials from various departments, focussing on the state's financial roadmap.
During the meeting, Dr. Sarma expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Finance Commission for their dedicated visit. Highlighting Assam’s unique challenges, from its diverse geography to the impact of climate change, its proximity to multiple international borders, and concerns about demographic shifts, the Chief Minister underscored how, despite these hurdles, Assam has managed to achieve higher capital expenditure and demonstrated strong performance across critical sectors including health, education, drinking water, infrastructure, local governance, disaster mitigation, power etc. He added that the State government endeavours to ensure that Assam emerges a net contributor in India’s quest to become the third largest economy. To achieve this, insightful submissions were made that could help strengthen Cooperative Federalism, address vertical & horizontal challenges, and strike a fine balance between Equity and Efficiency.
To realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making the North East a growth engine, greater fund devolution is critical, Dr. Sarma stressed. He urged the Commission to increase Assam's share within the framework of horizontal devolution and to consider treating the North-East as a collective block by allocating 10% of central funds to the 8 states. Emphasising that Assam’s unique challenges demand tailored solutions, the CM firmly stated that bridging regional disparities is the only path forward for Bharat. He expressed confidence that the 16th Finance Commission would take Assam's circumstances into favourable consideration.
Today's meeting was attended by the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Secretary Shri Ritvik Pandey, members Shri Ajay Narayan Jha, Smt. Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Joint Secretary Shri Rahul Jain, Ministers of the Assam Government, Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, and other senior officials from all departments.
[Delays plague Majuli-Jorhat Bridge over the Brahmaputra] : CM requests swift resolution in formal address to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways
Date :28.09.2024, 11:16 AM
Dispur, 26 September : To highlight the ongoing construction of the crucial two-lane bridge over the River Brahmaputra, between Majuli on the North Bank and Jorhat on the South Bank (from km 11/690 to km 19/715 on NH 715) in Assam, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed a formal letter to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
It may be noted that this project, awarded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in August 2021 on EPC mode to the UP State Bridge Corporation Limited, holds immense significance for the region, with a total contract value of approximately Rs. 650 crores and a target completion date of December 2025.
In his letter, Dr. Sarma expressed grave concern over the standstill in construction work, which has been inactive since 5th September 2024. He emphasized the urgency of Shri Gadkari's intervention to ensure that the projected completion date is not compromised. The Chief Minister stressed that the onset of the dry season offers a critical window for construction progress, and any further delays could result in a considerable loss of working days, exacerbating both cost and time overruns.
Reports suggest that the EPC contractor, UP State Bridge Corporation Limited, has abandoned the site, thereby halting all ongoing work, Dr. Sarma highlighted. He expressed his dismay, noting that such setbacks could endanger the timely completion of this pivotal infrastructure project, which is vital for the connectivity and economic development of Majuli and the surrounding region.
Given the pressing nature of the situation, Dr. Sarma requested Shri Gadkari to take immediate corrective action. He proposed that, if necessary, the process for re-tendering the project be initiated without delay, or alternatively, steps be taken to ensure the resumption of work without compromising the December 2025 completion target. The Chief Minister expressed his hope that with Shri Gadkari’s swift and decisive support, the project could be realigned with its scheduled timeline, thereby ensuring that Assam's development trajectory remains unhindered. He expressed hope for a swift and positive response from the Union Minister.