Assam Budget 2020-21: 18 Flagship schemes announced

March 6: Assam State Finance Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the last full-fledged Budget on Friday in Assam Legislative Assembly. Dr. Sarma announced 18 flagship programmes in the state budget for FY 2020-21.

In his Budget speech, the Finance Minister said, “While some schemes announced in previous Budget have been retained because of their transformational values and continued relevance, I’ve also replaced some of them with a few other imp schemes which will create a significant difference to lives of the common people of our State.” Some of the major announcements made in state Budget 2020-21 by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma are:

Like every year, I would like to place before this August House, the 18 Flagship Schemes whose implementation remains the topmost priority of the Government throughout the year. pic.twitter.com/2A7h3u85Bz

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

Anna Yojana:

• An amount of Rs. 498 crore was earmarked for Anna Yojana scheme.
• Free rice for all beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act
• Ensure nutritional guarantee for all
• Total number of beneficiary families will be 57 Lakhs

~ANNA Yojana~

This is to ensure our commitment to for a minimum nutritional security for our citizens is steadfast. A total amount of Rs 472 Crore has been allocated for this initiative for 2020-21 benefitting additional 51.39 lakh families.#AssamBudget2020 pic.twitter.com/ojcLIoHnQT

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Yojana:

• Creation of entrepreneurial support groups of youth on the lines of NRLM SHGs
• A grant of Rs. 50,000 to be given to each member of the groups
• Youth to engage in economically productive activities
• To cover 2,00,000 youths of the State

Increase stake of Assam Government in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd:

•  Equity holding of Assam Government in Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) will increase from existing 12.35% to 26%.
• Rs.1500 Crore in this Budget 2020-21 has been allocated for the extra stake in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL).
• Plan to expand to 9 Million Metric Tonne Per Annum (MMTPA) from the present 3 MMTPA capacity.

Jyotisman Asom:

• Assam government will provide Rs. 400 Crore to APDCL for providing tariff relief to the general public.
• Scheme to provide free electricity to all households whose monthly electricity consumption is up to 30 units.

~Jyotisman Asom~

# Free electricity to all households with monthly cons less than 30 units
# Adequate to cover basic electricity needs of a family
# 14 Lakhs families to instantly benefit
# Govt to transfer a subsidy of Rs 300 Cr to APDCL to insulate consumers from upward revsn pic.twitter.com/k0phDhZZCD

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

Comprehensive Social Security Scheme:

• Swahid Kushal Konwar Sarbajanin Briddha Pension Asoni: Rs. 250 per month to citizens above 60 years of age, 13 Lakh senior citizens covered so far. Additional 10% to be covered in FY 20-21.
• One-time grant of Rs. 25,000 as family assistance to widows and ‘Widow Pension’ of Rs. 250 per month.
• Deen Dayal Divyang Sahayjya Asoni: Rs. 1000 per month to Divyangs in Assam.
• Aideu Handique Mahila Samman Asoni, new pension scheme for unmarried/divorced/separated/single women above the age of 40 years-Rs. 250 per month.

Schemes for the Tea Tribes and Adivasi:

• The government will release the third tranche of Rs. 3000 to 7,21,485 bank accounts to strengthen our efforts to enhance financial inclusion in the Tea Garden areas under Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar.
• Wage compensation expanded from the existing 6 months to 9 months for pregnant women. Compensation increased to Rs. 18,000 to be paid in 6 installments.
• Will support pre-natal and post-natal health checkups & provide nutritional security.
• One-time support of Rs. 10,000 to Tea Tribes & Adivasi students who pass HSLC and HSC exams.
• Smartphones for approx. 4000 Tea Garden Sardars.
• Government to facilitate gratuity payment of approx. Rs. 50,000 to Tea Workers.

Comprehensive Social Security Scheme:

• A consolidated sum of Rs. 505 Crore is allocated under the Panchayat & Rural Development Department. Aidon Handique Samman Asoni– a new scheme to provide a universal allowance of Rs.250 per month to each unmarried/ divorced/separated single woman in the State above the age of 40 years.
• Swahid Kushal Konwar Sarbajanin Briddha Pension Asoni: Rs. 250 per month to citizens above 60 years of age, 13 Lakh senior citizens covered so far. Additional 10% to be covered in FY 20-21.
• Deen Dayal Divyang Sahayjya Asoni: Rs. 1000 per month to Divyangs in Assam.

#AssamBudget2020

'অৰুন্ধতী স্বৰ্ণ আঁচনি'ৰ অধীনত প্ৰতিগৰাকী কইনালৈ ১তোলা সোণৰ বাবে পূৰ্বৰ ৩০হাজাৰ টকাৰ পৰা বৃদ্ধি কৰি এই বছৰ ৪০হাজাৰ টকালৈ বিত্তীয় সাহায্য দিয়া হ'ব ৷ ইয়াৰ বাবে বাজেটত ১৫০কোটি টকা আৱণ্টন কৰা হৈছে pic.twitter.com/zI1TKCwGle

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

Arundhati Gold Scheme:

• Mandatory Registration of Marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• The financial assistance under ‘Arundhati’ will be enhanced to Rs 40,000, which will be given in liew of 1 tola gold to newly wed brides.
• A sum of Rs 150 Crore has been allocated for this scheme in Budget 2020-21.

Pragyan Bharati Scheme:

•  One time Education Loan Subsidy of Rs 50000 & Scooties to 20000 top-ranked female students in Class 12th will also be given.
• Admission fee waiver, free textbooks & uniforms in Government Schools.
• Rs 1000 to 1 Lakh students for textbooks
• Textbook assistance of Rs 1500 and Rs 2000 for student at graduate and post graduate levels.

Bhraman Sarathi :

• Free and dedicated bus services will be provided for women and senior citizens in Guwahati.
• Pink buses will ply in busiest routes which will provide safe and comfortable rides for women commuters under the ‘Bhraman Sarathi’ scheme.
• Further for the youths free ride in ASTC will be provided for appearing in examination / interviews.

~ Bhraman Sarathi ~

Amount: Rs 148 Crore

# Free and dedicated bus services for women and senior citizens in Guwahati
# Pink buses in busiest routes will provide safe and comfortable rides
# Free ride in ASTC for youth appearing in examination / interviews#AssamBudget2020 pic.twitter.com/DVN5xWBLiT

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

Asom Darshan:

• Development of tourist spots and religious places of all faiths.
• Rs. 2 Lakh Annuity Grant for each Devalaya in 2020-21.
• Rs. 2.5 Lakh to 8000 Namghars for infrastructure
• Rs. 614 Crore for road connectivity improvement
• Rs. 10 Lakh transferred for infrastructure development to 915 religious institutions.

Assam Cancer Care Foundation:

• 3 tier Cancer Care Grid.
• State contributed Rs. 550 Crore and Rs. 250 Crore by Tata Trusts so far.
• Construction in progress in 8 districts, Phase 1 within 2020-21.
• Unified Technology Platform; 34,544 detections in 3 years.

Yuva Arohan:

• Development of entrepreneurial mindset in youth for a Resurgent Assam.
• Introduction of ‘Entrepreneurship’ as a curricular subject from Class XI onwards.
• ‘Nano-entrepreneurship Grant’ as Seed Capital for real-life projects.

15. Yuva Arohan

Amount: Rs. 140 Crore

# Development of entrepreneurial mindset in youth for a Resurgent Assam
# Intro of ‘Entrepreneurship’ as a curricular subject from Class XI onwards
# ‘Nano-entrepreneurship Grant’ as Seed Capital for real life projects #AssamBudget2020 pic.twitter.com/g983vqkYCT

— Finance Department, Govt of Assam (@AssamFinDept) March 6, 2020

Asom Mala:

• 57,617 Km of State highways will be transformed under the ‘Asom Mala Scheme’.
• Rs 250 Crore will be spend for upgradation of Industrial Roads in 7 districts and 1000 timber bridges to be converted to RCC structures.

Sanitary Napkin Scheme:

• Government to provide free sanitary napkins to girls studying in Classes 6 to 12 in government and government-aided schools.
• Each girl will be provided with 18 belt less sanitary napkins per month.

Orunodoi:

• Tectonic shift in Governance delivery and poverty alleviation.
• Minimum guarantee to the poorest for nutrition and health
• Rs. 400 for medicines and Rs. 430 for pulses, sugar and fruits & vegetables
• Transfer of money directly to the primary care-takers of households i.e. women
• Annually Rs. 10000 to 27 lakh poor households through Direct Benefit Transfer

Vistarita Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Asoni:

• Revolving fund of Rs. 25000 and Rs. 10000 for female SHGs.
• Rs. 50000 to each SHG availing / eligible to avail bank loans, benefiting 1.04 lakh SHGs.
• Scooters for Jeevika Sakhis along with monthly allowance of Rs. 500.

Sonalo Shaishab Rupali Pathsala:

• Infrastructure development grant to school management committee.
• Upgradation to be completed by October, 2020.
• School infrastructure upgradation at Rs.25 Lakh per School for 200 Elementary Schools on pilot basis.

~Sonali Shaishab Rupali Pathsala~

Amount: Rs. 315 Crore

# School infrastructure upgradation at Rs.25 Lakh per School for 200 Elementary Schools on pilot basis
# Upgradation to be completed by October, 2020#AssamBudget2020 @sarbanandsonwal
@AssamFinDept pic.twitter.com/FL4zIN13Gw

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 6, 2020

The Finance Minister also announced that Provincialisation of services of all teachers will be done within August 2020. Further, Provincialisation of 20,288 teachers is also under consideration. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the State Budget 2020-21 saying that it’s “a budget for the poor, the farmers, women, youths, indigenous communities and every Indian citizen living in the state.”