HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Oct 25: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the State government will soon introduce a law to ban polygamy in Assam, as part of its continued measures to ensure women’s dignity and safeguard their rights.
He said this while addressing a public meeting at the Labak Tea Garden playground in Lakhipur, Cachar district, where he distributed cheques of Rs. 10,000 each as seed capital to 19,318 members of self-help groups under the Mukhyamantrir Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan.
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The Chief Minister said the ban on polygamy will go hand in hand with the government’s mission to eliminate child marriage and strengthen women’s social and economic empowerment.
He reaffirmed that protecting the status, safety and respect of women is one of the government’s core priorities.
At the event, Sarma said the seed capital being provided under the scheme is the first step towards helping women become financially independent.
Out of the beneficiaries, 18,600 are from rural areas and 718 from urban areas. He said that Assam has nearly four lakh self-help groups with around 40 lakh members.
Inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister to help three crore women in the country become lakhpati, the State government is working to help women belonging to SHGs in Assam earn at least Rs. 1 lakh annually.
The Chief Minister cited examples of women who have achieved financial independence through SHG support.
He mentioned Nandarani Devi of Lakhipur, who set up a beauty parlour and now earns about Rs. 10,000 per month, and Ranjita Sinha of Tamna Self-Help Group, who earns between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 14,000 per month through dairy farming.
Calling them “Lakhpati Baidews”, Sarma said their success reflects the transformation taking place across rural Assam.
Sarma said that if the initial capital of Rs. 10,000 is used productively, each member will receive Rs. 25,000 next year and Rs. 50,000 in the third year, amounting to a total support of up to Rs. 85,000.
If all 40 lakh women in Assam access such support, the State’s rural economy will undergo major growth.
The chief minister also announced that from November 7, ration card holders will be able to buy pulses, salt and sugar at fair prices in addition to rice.
Families under the Orunodoi scheme will get an additional Rs. 250 for purchasing LPG cylinders on top of the existing monthly benefit of Rs. 1,250.
Giving an account of development initiatives in Lakhipur constituency, Dr. Sarma said the government has sanctioned several projects including Rs. 55 crore for the road from LLR Road to Fulertol, Rs. 60 crore for the Jiribam–Jaipur road under Assam Mala, Rs. 75 crore for a bridge over the Silghat River, and Rs. 160 crore for road construction under the Public Works Department.
He also announced Rs. 127 crore for Lakhipur District Hospital, Rs. 20 crore for the Co-District Office complex, Rs. 35 crore for a Model Degree College, and Rs. 15 crore for Lakhipur Law College.
Sarma added that four higher secondary schools will be built at a total cost of Rs. 28 crore, along with additional allocations for Adarsha Vidyalayas and tea garden area schools.
He also mentioned improvement of the Silchar–Jiribam road under the Bharatmala project at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,000 crore.
Minister for Barak Valley Development Kaushik Rai, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Krishnaendu Paul, MPs Parimal Suklabaidya and Kripanath Mallah, MLAs Dipayan Chakraborty and Nihar Ranjan Das, senior officials and local leaders were present at the programme.
