Assam Cabinet: New guidelines for ST certificates for hill and plain tribes

Cabinet decisions include distribution of 35,800 Scootys and microfinance loan waiver

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet today took a slew of decisions, including the guidelines on standard procedure for issuance of ST certificates for hill and plain tribes. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired the meeting. After the Cabinet meeting, ministers Ranoj Pegu and Jayanta Mallabaruah briefed the media.

Pegu said, "Hill Tribe people staying in plains will also get ST certificates under Mission Bhumiputra. They did not get ST certificates earlier. Likewise, recognized Plain Tribe people residing in hills in the state will also get ST certificates. This decision will benefit Karbis the most."

Pegu further said that the Cabinet approved the enhancement of the fix pays of 135 associate professors working in different colleges in the state. He said, "Some of such associate professors get Rs 21,600 per month and some get Rs 8,000 per month as fixed pay. Now both categories of associate professors will get a fixed pay of Rs 55,000 per month."

He also said that girls securing first division and boys securing 75 per cent or above marks in higher secondary examinations, 2022, will get Scooties. He said that the department has already floated tenders for Scooty procurement. As many as 35,800 students (29,748 girls and 6,052 boys) will get this benefit. The distribution of Scooty will start on November 30 in Kamrup (M) and Kamrup districts. The state exchequer will cost Rs 258.9 crore for Scooties.

Jayanta Mallabaruah said, "The waiver of microfinance loans for women was a commitment of the BJP before the Assembly election. We gave incentives to the women who were repaying their loans regularly in phase 1. The loans of some women turned NPAs (non-performing assets). We will start the second phase of loan waiver to benefit the women whose loans turned NPAs. We will provide up to Rs 15,000 of incentives to the women, besides repaying the remaining loan amount to MFIs (microfinance institutes). We will distribute cheques among women on October 28, 29 and 30."

Mallabaruah said, "Hayat Group of Hotels and ATDC (Assam Tourism Development Corporation) will erect a five-star hotel in Kaziranga as a joint venture to boost the hospitality industry. ATDC will provide the land for the hotel project. It will be an investment of around Rs 100 crore."

The Cabinet also discussed Mission Basundhara II and the celebration of Lachit Divas in New Delhi on November 24.

The Cabinet will have a meeting at Silchar on November 11.

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