Assam Cabinet approves Rs 1,800 cr for microfinance loan waiver

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The State Cabinet took a slew of decisions in Dhemaji on Thursday.

The Cabinet approved incentives of Rs 1,800 crore for 11 lakh microfinance borrowers who are making regular repayment of their loans.

The Cabinet approved the Rs 700-crore relief package for the two paper mills for their 1,100 employees.

The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet decided to impose responsibility for issuing caste certificates under Other Backward Classes (OBCs) upon the community concerned instead of the OBC Board. As part of this move, the Cabinet authorized the Sodou Asom Motok Sanmilani to issue caste certificates to Mottoks. The Deputy Commissioners concerned will countersign the certificates.

The Tai Ahom, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi and the Gorkha communities can sell their lands in Murkongselek-Jonai Tribal Belt under Jonai LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency) in the Dhemaji district and Charikoriya Tribal Belt under Dhakuakhana LAC in the Lakhimpur district. Conditionally, they must be dwellers of the tribal belts concerned before 2011.

The Cabinet meeting decided to forge a new tribal belt at Sissi-Tongani under Dhemaji LAC. This tribal belt will cover 89 revenue villages under Sissi Borgaon Revenue Circle in the district.

Moreover, the Cabinet decided not to use the Revenue Department employees for other government works during the Mission Vasundhara implementation period.

Keeping in view the population growth in the existing Silchar and Dibrugarh Municipal Board areas, the Cabinet approved the elevation of these two civic bodies to municipal corporations.

The Cabinet decided to construct a road-cum-embankment from Jonai to Majuli along the Brahmaputra with an investment of Rs183 crore. The Cabinet decided to set up the office of Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner where other government offices are there. For the implementation of this scheme, the Cabinet fixed and approved a fund of Rs 50 crore.

The Cabinet approved Rs 50 crore for the setting up of an Integrated Sports Complex in Dhemaji.

The Chief Minister said, "Outreach Cabinet meetings will provide ministers chances to visit the districts on the way to inspect and monitor the implementation of government schemes when they will be travelling from Guwahati to the outreach Cabinet meeting venue. On the way, the ministers will visit one SDC office, one hospital, one Anganwadi centre and one school to take stock of the condition of the respective offices.

"On their return journey, the ministers will visit one vaccination centre and meet the beneficiaries of government schemes like Orunodoi Old Age Pension, Widow Pension or an achiever or successful figure."

Also Read: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Hits out at CM Sarma on Microfinance Loan Waiver

Also Watch: