Guwahati: Assam finance and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced that 17 lakh families across the state shall be given a sum of Rs. 830 per month under the trademark Arunoday scheme of the state Government.
The finance minister also stated that immediately, from October 2 onwards, around 17 lakh beneficiary families will be given Rs 830 per month. "This will be given in the bank accounts of the families", the minister stated, adding that this amount shall be disbursed until the family becomes 'economically independent.'
Providing the break-up of this amount, Sarma stated that Rs. 300 shall be given for medicines, Rs. 80 for sugar, Rs. 200 for dal, and Rs. 150 for fruits/vegetables.
Apart from this, there will be a "variable amount" that will be given to the families which be decided on "the financial capability of the Government" at any given point of time. The Government shall also try to meet the 'special needs' of the families such as education fees and festival expenditure.
"In the Constituencies where the number of votes more 2 lakh, there will be 17,000 beneficiaries, and the number of beneficiaries in Constituencies where the number of voters is less than 2 lakh will be 15,000", Sarma stated, adding that the Assam Government will incur an expenditure of Rs. 210 crore each month to meet the financial demand of the Arunoday scheme.
The minister further added that the process for implementation of the ambitious scheme shall commence on August 17, and the beneficiaries shall be selected by a district-level committee.
"The committee shall select the beneficiaries and will forward their details along with bank account numbers to the finance department which will directly transfer the said amount to the bank accounts", Sarma said.
The families shall nominate a woman to whose account the amount shall be announced, added Sarma.
Sarma further added. that 18 flagship schemes were announced during the last Budget; Sarma said that the 'Arunodai' scheme is the 'most important one.
"We know that there are many families in the state who, at different times, have benefitted from Government schemes; however, one can only avail these schemes after a lengthy process", Sarma stated.
"Because different departments are employed in implementing these schemes, sometimes it becomes difficult to implement the schemes", Sarma said, adding that the family should have a say in the benefits it receives in the schemes.
"In the next 5 years, all the Government schemes will be implemented under the same framework", Sarma added.
"Till September 15, every week, we are going to start announcing new schemes. Some will be within the Budget and some will be from outside", the minister further announced.
It needs mention here that the Arunoday scheme for the poor people introduced in this year's Budget is a novel permanent move of the State government.