HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 23: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that the State government will launch a new scheme exclusively for male students from January next year.
The announcement marks a significant expansion of the government’s welfare initiatives, which so far have largely focused on women and girl students.
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The chief minister made the announcement while attending a programme at Rangapara, where he distributed Rs 10,000 seed capital each to 24,827 women beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA).
With Sunday’s distribution, more than nine lakh women across 41 constituencies have benefited from the scheme.
Sarma said that MMUA has played a major role in bolstering women’s economic empowerment, particularly in rural areas.
He stated that women, who once confined themselves mostly to household duties, are now actively participating in income-generating activities with the help of self-help groups.
About forty lakh women across the state are now engaged in productive work, supported by government schemes.
He further explained that MMUA operates in three stages—Rs 10,000 in the first stage, Rs 25,000 in the second, and Rs 50,000 in the third.
He urged Rangapara beneficiaries to utilise the first installment wisely so they may qualify for the next stages.
Speaking on the Orunodoi scheme, the chief minister said the monthly assistance has increased from Rs 830 to Rs 1,250 and now covers 40 lakh women.
A “special gift” will reach Orunodoi beneficiaries early next year, he said, adding that ration card–holding families will soon receive subsidised pulses, sugar, and salt.
Sarma also highlighted several welfare measures introduced by the State government, including the Nijut Moina scheme for daughters, free admissions in educational institutions, free rice distribution through ration cards, and free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Assam. In Rangapara constituency, more than 24,000 women have benefited from MMUA, over 27,000 from Orunodoi, 1,847 girls from Nijut Moina, and around 42,000 families from free rice distribution, he said.
The chief minister further said that major development projects are underway in the constituency.
Under Asom Mala 2.0, the road from Ghoirali Tea Estate to Borjuli Tini Ali is 90 per cent complete, and about Rs 154 crore has been sanctioned for road works.
He also mentioned the construction of anganwadi centres, model schools in eight tea estates, roads in garden lines, flyovers, and introduction of a science stream in the local college.
The programme was attended by MP Ranjit Dutta, MLAs Padma Hazarika, Krishna Kamal Tati, Ganesh Limbu, and Prithviraj Rabha; ASRLM Mission Director Kuntal Moni Sarma Bordoloi; Rangapara Municipal Board Chairman Harishdhan Das; and other dignitaries.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister visited the Gupteshwar Temple at Shingri in Sonitpur district, offered prayers, and inaugurated the Atirudra Mahayajna for the welfare of humanity.
