Silchar & Dibrugarh Municipal Boards to be upgraded to Municipal Corporations: Cabinet

Sept. 30: In the weekly Assam Cabinet on 30 September, several key decisions regarding relief package for Nagaon & Cachar paper mill employees, relieving revenue officers from miscellaneous duties, relaxation in fund norms for social assistance schemes, new municipal corporations, among others were taken. The Cabinet Meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

New Municipal Corporations:

• In a significant move, keeping in view the population growth in existing Silchar and Dibrugarh Municipal Board (MB) areas, the MBs to be upgraded to Municipal Corporations in order to increase the fund flow to these towns.
• A separate legislation like Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act, 1971, will be formulated in case of both the new Municipal Corporations in due course of time.

Rs. 700-crore Relief Package for Hindustan Paper Corporation Employees:

• Govt to provide a relief package to all 1,100 employees of now-defunct Cachar and Nagaon paper mills of Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd (HPC).
• Quantum of relief package will be assessed based on PF, Gratuity, pension, salaries and other dues as claimed and admitted before liquidator.
• The relief will also be provided to school teachers, contractual co-operative workers of HPC.
• Govt of Assam will facilitate workers/ employees, who have not completed their service in getting jobs in the new industries to be established in HPC land, in future.
• Govt jobs will be provided to the youngest 100 employees/ workers of HPC.
• Doctors, paramedical staff of HPC will also be accommodated in Govt jobs.
• A fund of Rs 10 crore to be set up for welfare of HPC workers. Govt. of Assam will approach NCLT through official liquidator for taking over the assets of HPC Ltd. after exercising due diligence.

Caste Certificates of Matak Community:

• All Assam Matak Sanmilan (Sadau Asom Matak Sanmilan) authorised to issue OBC/MOBC certificates in respect of Matak community, in place of All Assam OBC Association or Sub-Divisional OBC Development Board and, countersigned by DC/SDO.

Relief for Pension Beneficiaries:

• Ceiling on release of funds to be removed from National Old Age and Widow Pension schemes, making all Social Assistance schemes ceiling-free and ensuring deposit of pension by 10th of every month.

Garbage Transfer Stations:

• Land approved for setting up two of the four new Garbage Transfer Stations (GTS) by Guwahati Municipal Corporation at Machkhowa (ASTC land 13.11 bigha) and Panjabari (Cooperation Department at Purabi Dairy 2 bigha)
• GMC has already received NOC for GTS at Kahilipara (APDCL land) and Adabari (GMC land)
• GMC currently has four functioning GTSs

Mission Basundhara:

Focus on Revenue Work In order to expedite land revenue-related works and ensure success of Mission Basundhara, Revenue Circle Officers and Land Revenue staff to be exempted from engaging in miscellaneous duties other than revenue matters, law & order, election, census and disaster management related duties.

Relief for Forest Dwellers:

SC/ST/Adivasi and other Traditional Forest Dwellers to be exempted from the purview of Assam Public Services (Application of Small Family Norms in Direct Recruitment) Rules, 2019, relieving these communities from the two-child norm, in order to remove the barrier for them to get into Government services.

Rs 1,800 crore for Microfinance Scheme:

Incentive of Rs 1,800 cr approved for 11 lakh microfinance borrowers, who have been making regular repayments.

• Social Security Rules:Assam Social Security Rules, 2021 framed as per the Code on Social Security, 2020 notified by Govt. of India on September 29, 2020.
• This will pave the way for doing away with all the archaic provisions of earlier Acts creating hurdles in generation of new employment opportunities and bring workers of organised as well as unorganised sectors under a robust social security net.