* Employees will enjoy 35 government holidays and 31 restricted holidays
* Bamboo & Cane Policy approved to bring about green revolution
* Free napkins to female employees
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet on Tuesday approved the official holiday list for 2020. As per the list, over 5 lakh government employees will enjoy 35 official holidays and 31 restricted holidays next year.
Restricted Holiday or Optional Holiday is the holiday which is optional for each individual employee and each employee can decide whether he/she wants to take a leave on that day or not. The days of Shilpi Divas, Tithi of Gopal Dev, Karam Puja, Ali Ai Ligang festival and some other events have been marked as restricted holidays for government employees. On these particular days, only employees who are connected and associated with the events can avail of the restricted holidays. For example, a Muslim employee cannot avail restricted holiday on the Tithi of Gopal Dev or Karam Puja.
Taking into account the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays when offices remain closed, government employees will enjoy 113 holidays in a year. Besides these confirmed holidays, the General Administration Department (GAD) and Deputy Commissioners can declare two and one holidays respectively in a year.
On other hand, the Cabinet approved the Bamboo and Cane Policy to boost bamboo cultivation and bring about green revolution in the State. Under the policy, the government will initially go for bamboo cultivation at 1000 hectares of land. The government will give an incentive of Rs 2.40 against every sapling planted by bamboo cultivators. While 50 per cent incentive will be given in the first year of cultivation, the rest 30 and 20 per cent will be released in phased manner.
The Cabinet also approved 50 subsidies for those involved in advanced breeding and farming pigs and goats.
While approving the Financial Autonomy to Veterinary Farm Policy to boost private investments in veterinary sector, Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting made its mandatory for industries and factories in the State to give free napkins to their female employees and workers.