HT Correspondent
HOJAI, Sept 2: Hojai district witnessed a festive atmosphere on Tuesday as thousands of women gathered to receive the first instalment of financial assistance under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Asoni (MMUA).
The scheme extends support to women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across Assam.
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Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed cheques at an event organised at Srimanta Sankardev Nagar, where he said that the initiative would bring about an economic transformation in the district.
Altogether, 31,910 beneficiaries in Hojai received Rs 10,000 each as the first instalment.
Sarma announced that the assistance would increase in subsequent years—Rs 25,000 in the second year, including Rs 12,500 from banks with interest borne by the government, and Rs 50,000 in the third year.
He urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds for small businesses, family ventures or collective enterprises to strengthen households and the local economy.
The chief minister said similar events will be held across all 126 Legislative Assembly Constituencies by December.
He also assured timely completion of all ongoing development projects in the state.
Later, Sarma participated in a programme at Gopal Mandir in Doboka, where he inaugurated a newly built hall and unveiled a statue of Hiraben Modi, mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also dedicated the Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose Campus of Rabindranath Thakur Viswavidyalaya at Sagar Basti in Hojai to the people.
Built at a cost of Rs 57.34 crore, this is the second campus of the university.
Addressing students, the chief minister said Rabindranath Tagore and Jagdish Chandra Bose were visionaries who shaped India and urged the youth to emulate their ideals.
He expressed hope that Rabindranath Thakur Viswavidyalaya would emerge as a premier educational institution in Assam.
Sarma announced a grant of Rs 50 crore for the development of the university and a new road to directly connect the campus with the National Highway.
The programme was attended by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, IT Minister Keshab Mahanta, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MLAs Ramkrishna Ghosh and Sibu Mishra, former MLA Shiladitya Dev, Hojai DC Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manvendra Dutta Choudhury, and several dignitaries.
