Assam: Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presents state budget
Assam: Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presents state budget
Digital Desk: Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, while presenting the state budget on the Floor of the House in the ongoing Budget Session of the Assam Assembly, announced several key welfare measures aimed at benefiting government employees, farmers, and tea garden workers.
PENSION REFORM: OPS BENEFITS UNDER NPS
In a significant move undertaken by the State Authorities in Assam, the Assam state government will extend the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme or OPS under the New Pension Scheme, or NPS, for eligible employees, impacting around 2.8 lakh government employees across the state.
RELIEF FOR RATION CARD HOLDERS
Yes, Big Move, Viewers, Starting October, every ration card holder in Assam will receive 1 kg of lentils, followed by 1 kg of sugar, and 1 kg of salt as part of the state assistance for the people of Assam. Rs 370 crore has been allocated as commissions for fair price shops in the State to further facilitate this move.
SUPPORT FOR TEA GARDEN WORKERS
Acknowledging the credit and contribution of Assam’s tea garden worker community, the State government in Assam will provide a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to Rs 6.8 lakh tea garden workers, both working in a casual and permanent capacity.
A total of Rs 342 crore has been allocated for this state-backed initiative.
INSURANCE FOR CONTRACTUAL & PSU EMPLOYEES
In a bid to ensure financial security, all contractual employees and public sector employees receiving salaries through commercial banks will now be covered under a zero-cost accident and death insurance scheme.
ENCOURAGING EDUCATION & LITERATURE
Under this initiative, one promising young writer making significant contributions to the domains and spaces of creative science and education will receive a one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000.
Citizens have also been encouraged to gift books on birthdays and weddings to promote a holistic reading culture in the society.
Furthermore, State Government employees will receive Rs 1,000 to purchase books.
FINANCIAL AID FOR FARMERS
To further support Assam’s farmers and augment the process of agricultural productivity, the state government in Assam has proposed direct financial assistance for key crops in the order of:
Rs 250 per quintal direct state assistance for paddy
Rs 250 per quintal direct state assistance for maize
Rs 500 per quintal direct state assistance for mustard
DIBRUGARH TO BECOME ASSAM’s SECOND CAPITAL
In what arrives as a landmark decision, the Assam government has allocated Rs 200 crore for the construction of a new Assembly building and MLA hostel at the Dibrugarh district of the state, officially marking its status as the second capital of Assam.
These budgetary provisions aim to bolster the socio-economic fabric of Assam while providing crucial support to the fraternity of employees, farmers, and marginalized communities in the society.
Additionally, other highlights of the State budget presented today include a new scheme titled Jeevan Prerana
Under this initiative and scheme, Students of Colleges and Universities will receive Rs 2,500 per month
The funds will be available to students studying in government universities and colleges.
The State Government in Assam will sponsor two national conferences annually, every two years for Asian countries and one international conference every four years for non-Asian countries.
The state government in Assam will further provide interest-free loans to newly appointed faculty members of medical colleges for the purchase of vehicles.
Additionally, an easy housing loan scheme will be launched for the fraternity of faculties of medical colleges.
Furthermore, the state budget proposes to set up a proton therapy center at the State Cancer Institute in the state capital city of Guwahati to ensure the availability of state-of-the-art cancer treatment for cancer patients, especially children.
This will be the first proton therapy center in East India and the third in the nation. The financial outlay of the device amounts to around Rs 550 crore.
It has also been learned that the state government in Assam will also put CSR funds to resourceful use for the said project.
