Dispur, January 2: True to the commitment of the government, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed five thousand cheques to the women beneficiaries to incentivise them to maintain good credit discipline at a programme held at Dhemaji today.
It may be noted that under the scheme named Assam Micro-finance Incentive and Relief Scheme for category 1 that is prompt payer category the cheques amounting to Rs. 25000 per beneficiary or outstanding whichever is lower have been given to the beneficiaries. Altogether 11 thousand women beneficiaries from Dhemaji have been covered under this scheme. Of the 11 thousand beneficiaries, five thousand were presented with the cheques at today’s programme and remaining six thousand will be given the same at different development block offices in the district in the coming few days.
While presenting the cheques, Dr. Sarma asked the beneficiaries to make good use of the financial incentive and strengthen their business ventures. He said that repayment of the loan amount is essential for them to increase their CIBIL score so that they can avail further loans for business purposes. He said that category 1 of the scheme will be over by April 15 and government will design another scheme for those loanees who couldn’t return their loans. He said that government will create a portal and application will be sought from the defaulting loanees from February 1 to understand the requirements of the new scheme to enable the executing agency to design the scheme in sync with the need of defaulting loanees.
Stating the priority of his government in taking the welfare of the people of the state to a new level, the Chief Minister said that the parameters of Arunodoi scheme will be enhanced to increase the size of the beneficiaries under the scheme. Thanking the people for the overwhelming response of ‘drink and drive’ operation, CM Dr. Sarma said that though such drives will be sustained throughout the year, special drive will be conducted on the night of Uruka also. He also said that in line with the operation against contraband drugs in the state, government will initiate drives against gambling.
Chief Minister Dr Sarma asked the farming community of the state to sell their paddy grains to FCI. He also said that government will give 50 per cent subsidy to those who want to buy grain drying machines to remove moisture contents in the paddy grains.
Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Education Minister Dr. Ranuj Pegu, Guardian Minister Sanjay Kisan, MP Pradan Baruah, MLA Jonai Bhuban Pegu also spoke on the occasion. MLA Lakhimpur Manav Deka, MLA Bihpuria Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, CEM Mising Autonomous Council Parmananda Chayengia and host of others were present at the programme.