Sribhumi (Assam) [India], September 2 (HBTV): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday attended a meeting at Mundamala playground in Sribhumi and distributed cheques to 15,671 self-help group (SHG) members in Patharkandi under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA).

According to a release, the scheme aims to provide seed capital to over 35 lakh women across Assam in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and handloom.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma urged beneficiaries to use the INR 10,000 seed capital productively so they can become financially self-reliant and contribute to the development of their families.

‘The beneficiaries can use the funds for any productive activity on their own, or they can use the funds collectively with other women in self-help groups to run commercial activities. The fund can also be used by a member of the beneficiary’s family for business. The process of providing entrepreneurship funds does not end here. Next year, the government will conduct a survey on how the women beneficiaries use the fund. On productive utilisation of the fund thus received from the government, they will be entitled to another instalment of seed capital amounting to INR 25,000, of which INR 12,500 will be borne by the government and the remaining amount will be made available from the bank. On positive utilisation of the fund, the government will give another instalment of seed capital to the tune of INR 50,000 to each applicant of women SHGs,’ the Chief Minister said.

He emphasised that each beneficiary could receive a total of INR 85,000 if all three instalments are properly utilised. He also assured that women who productively use the preliminary instalment of INR 10,000 would receive the subsequent funds from the government.

Chief Minister Sarma also announced that his government will begin disbursing financial incentives under Orunodoi 3.0 from September 17. ‘Under the scheme, besides getting INR 1,250 per month, the beneficiaries would receive INR 250 as subsidy for buying LPG cylinders. From November onwards, the state government will also start providing rice, sugar, and salt at subsidised rates,’ he said.

Highlighting other welfare programmes, the Chief Minister mentioned the Nijut Moina scheme and another initiative that provides INR 300 per month to HSLC students for nutritious food. He reiterated the government’s commitment to support people living below the poverty line and sought blessings from the public to sustain the schemes in the future.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Krishnendu Paul, MP Kripanath Malla, MLAs Vijay Malakar, Siddique Ahmed, Kamalakhya De Purkayastha, Mission Director Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission Kuntal Moni Sarma Bordoloi, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.  

(ANI)