Several key decisions taken in Assam Cabinet meeting held on Sunday

May 29: In the weekly Assam Cabinet on 29 May, several key decisions related to new framework for UG/PG courses, speed limits on various roads, setting up Assam Millet Mission, rationalising teacher transfer process, recruitment to technical institutes, among others were taken. The Cabinet Meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

KEY DECISIONS:

Relief for Assam Agitation Victims:

• Ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh each to 288 seriously injured persons and 57 women victimised during Assam Agitation
• Rs.6.9 cr to be distributed among those injured and victimised during 1979-85

Compensation for Airport Land Acquisition:

• Payment of Rs.1 lakh as compensation to each of the 1,263 garden families of Doloo TE (a total of Rs.12.63 cr) as a goodwill gesture for their cooperation in the development work of Greenfield Airport at Silchar

Relief for ATCL Workers:

• Rs.142.50 cr to be paid against outstanding Provident Fund dues of Assam Tea Corporation Ltd (ATCL) workers

SOP for Mission Amrit Sarovar:

• SOP approved for implementation of Assam Model of Mission Amrit Sarovar which seeks to introduce a source of water for small and marginal farmers and income generating assets by integrating pisciculture and commercial plantations

• 3,007 Amrit Sarovars to be constructed with cost of fl,208 cr and to be completed in all respect by August 15, 2023 AREA: Minimum 75 Amrit Sarovars to be constructed in each district with minimum size of 1 hectare. In Kamrup Metro, South Salmara and Dima Hasao minimum size will be 1 acre

REVENUE SHARING: Amrit Sarovars to be maintained by Cluster Level Federation of Women SHGs and revenue earned to be shared with Panchayats or local bodies in Sixth Schedule areas in 75:25 proportion

COMMITTEES: State Level Committee, District Level Committee, Block Level Construction Committee and 2 dedicated Prabharis for each Amrit Sarovar to be positioned. Panchayat Pratinidhi and Panchayat Level Officer to be designated as per Mission guidelines

BANK ACCOUNT: Exclusive bank account to be opened which shall be operated by Commissioner, P&RD for the Mission. Bank account to be operated as SNA and it will serve as mother account for all districts.

In Interest of Tea Garden Workers:

Approval to rationalisation of Zonal valuation and fair compensation of acquisition of tea land

Rationalisation of Zonal valuation involves;

• Determination of zonal value for tea land by averaging the sale price of tea land on the basis of registered sale deeds of preceding three years in the district
• If registered sale deeds of preceding three years are not available, registered sale deeds executed for nearest available tea garden in other district may be taken into consideration
• Determination of 10% of zonal value of nearest agricultural land as a ‘floor value’

Fair compensation for acquisition of tea land involves:

• Amendment of Assam Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2015

This will equate Tea Garden lands with lands located in urban areas for the purpose of determination of multiplication factor to calculate the compensation payable when tea lands are acquired for public purposes. Tea garden workers (both permanent and temporary) to be eligible for receiving 10% of the compensation amount payable to the tea garden towards acquisition cost of the land.

Timely Payment of Honorarium:

• Exemption of procedure of Fixation of Ceiling (FOC) for payment of monthly honorarium of part-time ICT instructors working in Secondary Schools under Dr Banikanta Kakoty Computer Literacy Programme
• It will ensure regular and timely release of monthly wage

Extension of Tax Exemption:

• Issuance of Assam Taxation (On Specified Lands) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022

• This will enable the extension of tax exemption on green tea leaves for a further period of three years from 1st January 2022 under the Assam Taxation (On Specified Lands) Act.