HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Jan 3: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched the distribution of cheques under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) in Borsola and Sipajhar Assembly constituencies, reaffirming the State government’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment. Under the programme, cheques of Rs 10,000 each were distributed to 30,655 enterprising women in Borsola constituency of Sonitpur district, while seed capital was handed over to 39,701 women in Sipajhar constituency of Darrang district. With this phase, entrepreneurship funds under MMUA have been distributed to a total of 14, 46,021 women across 62 Assembly constituencies in Assam.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also virtually laid the foundation stone for a Super Specialty Hospital at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 306 crore. He further laid the foundation for the Karmabir Chandranath Sharma Government Model Degree College at Nij Bihaguri with a financial outlay of Rs 35 crore and virtually inaugurated the Sarakahat Mini Stadium, built at a cost of Rs 11 crore.
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The proposed six-storeyed Super Specialty Hospital block at Tezpur Medical College will house departments such as Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology and Urology, along with emergency services. The facility will also include a mortuary block, medical gas pipeline system, cafeteria and modern waste management infrastructure, aimed at providing advanced healthcare services to the people of the region. The three-storeyed academic building of the model degree college at Nij Bihaguri will be equipped with classrooms, laboratories, digital classrooms, faculty rooms and a lecture recording studio, among other modern facilities, to enhance access to quality higher education.
The Sarakahat Mini Stadium, inaugurated at the Sarakahat playground in Borsola constituency, includes a football ground, accommodation facilities for players, an RCC gallery, a boxing ring and an indoor stadium with two badminton courts. Arrangements for parking, sanitation, water supply and electrification have also been made.
Addressing public meetings at Thelamara in Borsola constituency and at the historic Jora Pukhuri site in Ramgaon under Sipajhar constituency, the Chief Minister said the MMUA scheme covers 32 lakh women across the state with the aim of enhancing women’s dignity and making them self-reliant. He stated that the core objective of the scheme is to transform every woman into a ‘Lakhpati’, adding that over eight lakh women in Assam have already crossed the annual income mark of Rs 1 lakh, with several thousand emerging as ‘Maha Lakhpatis’ by earning more than Rs 10 lakh annually.
Referring to Sipajhar constituency, Dr Sarma said it has secured the top position in the state in terms of MMUA beneficiaries, with nearly 40,000 women receiving seed capital. Highlighting success stories from Borsola, he cited the example of Dulumoni Devi of Mekanar Suburi village, who earns around Rs 35,000 per month through a banana chips manufacturing unit, and Latashree Tati of Dhankhana village, who earns about Rs 19,000 per month by supplying milk to Purabi Dairy. From Sipajhar, he mentioned Gitanjali Kalita Deka of Pithakhawa village, who earns around Rs 28,000 per month through a beauty parlour and handloom unit and Pranati Deka of Chengapara village, who earns Rs 45,000–50,000 per month through betel vine cultivation and vegetable farming.
The Chief Minister said welfare schemes such as Orunodoi, free rice distribution, cooking gas subsidy, free admissions, Nijut Moina and others have helped improve the quality of life and dignity of women. He informed that Orunodoi beneficiaries will receive Rs 8,000 in one instalment on February 20 and that ration card holders will be able to purchase pulses, sugar and salt for Rs 100 from this month.
Highlighting development works in Borsola, he said over 30,000 beneficiaries have been covered under Orunodoi, while 2,225 girl students have benefited under Nijut Moina. Road projects under the Assam Mala initiative have also been completed or are underway in the constituency. In Sipajhar, over 33,000 beneficiaries have been covered under Orunodoi, 3,450 girl students under Nijut Moina, and more than two lakh people through ration cards.
Dr Sarma said the completion of the Guwahati Ring Road and the Narengi–Kuruwa connecting bridge would bring significant socio-economic transformation to Sipajhar. He added that the cooperation of the people over the past five years has enabled the government to move steadily towards building a New Assam, and expressed gratitude for their continued support.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal, Sonitpur MP Ranjit Dutta, Borsola MLA Ganesh Kumar Limbu, Tezpur MLA Prithviraj Rabha, Rangapara MLA Krishna Kamal Tanti and other dignitaries were present at the Borsola programme. The Sipajhar programme was attended by MP Dilip Saikia, Sipajhar MLA Paramananda Rajbongshi, Mangaldoi MLA Basanta Kumar Das, Chairman of Assam Fishery Development Corporation Gurujyoti Das, and other officials and public representatives.
