HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 13: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched the distribution of entrepreneurship capital cheques to 36,834 members of self-help groups (SHGs) under the Mukhyamantrir Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan at a programme held at Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University, Bholaguri in Biswanath district.
Of the total beneficiaries, 35,530 belong to rural areas and 1,304 to urban areas.
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Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said the State Government has been working tirelessly over the past four and a half years to empower women across Assam in multiple sectors.
He said several flagship schemes of the State have earned national recognition, with many other states emulating Assam’s models.
Citing examples, he noted that the Udyamita scheme’s provision of ₹10,000 as seed capital for women became a major talking point during the Bihar Assembly elections, while the success of the Orunodoi scheme inspired states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi to launch similar initiatives.
The chief minister said government efforts have led to a significant decline in child marriages and that schemes like “Nijut Moina” have boosted girls’ enrollment in higher education.
He also stated that crimes against women have fallen and women’s representation in Panchayats, Zila Parishads, and other institutions has increased notably.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating “Lakhpati Baideus,” Sarma said many women in Assam have already achieved this milestone, with some even crossing the ₹10 lakh annual income mark—now being called “Mahalakhpati Baideus.”
He shared success stories of Pankaja Hazarika of Aastha SHG, Krishnapur, and Ronika Basumatary of Maoria SHG, Milanpur under Gohpur LAC, both of whom became Lakhpati Baideus through entrepreneurship.
Describing the ₹4,000-crore Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan as a transformative initiative, Sarma urged women to make the best use of the assistance provided.
He announced that beneficiaries who effectively utilise the initial ₹10,000 grant would receive additional support of ₹25,000 and ₹50,000 in subsequent phases.
Highlighting the success of the Orunodoi scheme, he said the ₹1,250 monthly assistance has empowered women to contribute meaningfully to household management.
He further announced that 3,000 more women from the constituency would soon be included under the scheme.
The event was attended by MP Ranjit Dutta, MLAs Utpal Bora, Pramod Borthakur and Diganta Ghatowal, Biswanath Zila Parishad Chairperson Sunita Tanti, Gohpur Municipal Board Chairman Atul Bora, ASRLM Mission Director Kuntalmoni Sarma Bordoloi, District Commissioner Simanta Kumar Das, social worker Ashim Das, and other dignitaries and senior officials.
