Assam Cabinet's decisions to cheer up tea garden workers & industry, boost agri sector

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took as many as 17 important decisions at its meeting on Wednesday. The Cabinet decided to make Bodo associate official language in Assam through an Ordinance. The BTC authority has been asked to extensively use Assamese along with Bodo and English on signboards

The number of members of Development Councils has been increased from the current 25 to 45. Assam has 33 Development Councils including the Moran Development Council, Motor Development Council, Goria Development Council, and Tea and Ex-Tea Development Council among others.

The Cabinet also cleared a regulation for the irregularly appointed 4,534 teachers.

The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) regulations have been amended to remove restrictions on the number of women members in APSC. The Commission would now see more women members.

The Cabinet cleared the proposal for day boarding facilities and a free uniform for children in 428 tea garden managed schools of Assam.

Two new ranges and four-beat offices in Majuli would be set.

In another important decision, the Cabinet approved the Ordinance to form Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council in areas outside sixth schedule areas with Bodo dominated villages.

Assam Hydrocarbon and Energy Company- a State PSU has been given the go-ahead to acquire 10 percent participating interests in exploration cum production of an OIL Block at Namrup allotted to OIL India Limited for around Rs 30 crore.

Thirty bighas of government land would now be set aside to set up a regional center of the National Fisheries Development Board at Amingaon.

Remuneration of Gaon Burhas has been increased from Rs. 6500 to 9000 effective retrospectively from April this year.

In a decision that might come as a huge relief for students of Barak Valley planning to take the Assam Combined Civil Services Examination, all those who have not studied Assamese, Bengali or Bodo need not appear in qualifying languages in APSC Combined Civil Services Examination.

In some good news for tea garden workers and Assam's ailing tea industry, the assurance benefit payable under Assam Tea Plantations Provident Fund Scheme has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Under that it would also be Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme 2020 -- 3 percent interest subvention of working capital would be provided, Orthodox or specialty tea production subsidy @ Rs 7 per kg would be available and 25 percent subsidy on cost of Plant and Machinery of orthodox or specialty tea would be available.

To give a big boost to the state's agriculture sector, the agriculture Income Tax holiday for 3 years has been approved by the Cabinet.

Under the Vistarita Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Yojana Rs 50,000 capital subsidy would be given to eligible SHGs (self-help groups).

The Cabinet also cleared the proposal to give Cabinet rank to Advocate General.

Also Read: Assam to increase reserve forest by another 2000 sq km: CM