HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Oct 4: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday reiterated his government’s commitment to fulfilling every promise made to the people, stating that welfare and empowerment schemes launched in Assam were being implemented with sincerity and measurable results.
He was speaking at a function in Biswanath where cheques of ₹10,000 each were distributed to 37,804 women beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA).
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The beneficiaries included 34,620 women from the Biswanath constituency and 3,184 from Bihali, belonging to both rural and urban areas.
In Biswanath alone, the total disbursement amounted to ₹34.62 crore — with 32,997 rural and 1,623 urban beneficiaries.
The scheme, launched under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, aims to promote women’s entrepreneurship by supporting village-based livelihoods in agriculture, animal husbandry, handloom, and handicrafts.
Giving details of the applications received, the chief minister said the largest number of women opted for goat rearing, with 11,520 women from 23 village panchayats receiving ₹11.52 crore.
This was followed by 3,925 women from 12 panchayats engaged in pig rearing, receiving ₹3.92 crore, while 2,804 women from 15 panchayats received ₹2.80 crore for poultry farming.
Additionally, ₹2.66 crore was allotted to 2,669 women involved in dairy farming, ₹1.19 crore to 1,193 women in fishery, and ₹97 lakh to 973 women cultivating paddy.
Several others applied for layer poultry and duck farming as well.
Sarma recalled that when the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan was first announced, many doubted its feasibility.
“To provide ₹10,000 each to 40 lakh women of 4 lakh self-help groups, the State needed ₹4,000 crore. Similarly, the Orunodoi scheme with 30 lakh beneficiaries required ₹4,800 crore annually. Many dismissed these as election promises. But our government never backs away from its commitments. The people of Assam can see the results today,” he said.
The chief minister informed that the MMUA began with cheque distribution in Bihali on April 1, followed by the second phase in Nalbari on August 22.
So far, cheques have been distributed in 17 constituencies, and the process will continue across others in the coming weeks.
Sarma said the initiative is designed to financially strengthen women through self-help groups (SHGs) by providing revolving funds and access to bank credit.
He stated that nearly eight lakh women have already become Lakhpati — earning ₹1 lakh annually — through various livelihood activities, while around 99 percent of SHGs have successfully repaid their loans on time.
“The dream of making 40 lakh women Lakhpati inspired the launch of this Abhiyan,” he added.
Encouraging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds, the chief minister advised them to invest in productive ventures.
“If ten women from an SHG pool their ₹10,000 each, banks will double the amount as loans, enabling larger-scale businesses. Even individually, investing the amount in goat, duck, or poultry farming, food processing, or other family enterprises can yield long-term gains,” he said.
He announced that beneficiaries who utilize the first installment productively will receive ₹25,000 next year and ₹50,000 in the third year with bank support.
Sarma also announced that from November 1, ration card holders will receive lentils, sugar, and salt at subsidized prices along with rice, and that edible oil will soon be included.
From October 7, Orunodoi beneficiaries will receive ₹1,250 per month, and Ujjwala gas cardholders will get a ₹250 subsidy per cylinder.
“The love, trust, and confidence of the people have empowered this government to implement one welfare scheme after another. We remain steadfast in fulfilling every promise made to the people of Assam,” the chief minister asserted.
The event was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal, MP Banjit Dutta, MLAs Pramod Borthakur, Padma Hazarika, Utpal Bora, Prithviraj Rabha, Diganta Ghatowar, Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, and Krishnakamal Tanti, former Minister Pallav Lochan Das, and Biswanath Zila Parishad Chairperson Sunita Tanti.
Also present were Mission Director, ASRLM Kuntal Moni Sarma Bordoloi, District Commissioner Simanta Kumar Das, and other dignitaries.
