Assam Finance Minister tables budget 2023-24 with focus on self-employment and welfare initiatives

Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presented the finance budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 on the floor of Assam Legislative Assembly today. The budget aims to provide overall welfare to the people of Assam, with a special focus on self-employment.

Initiatives under Pragyan Bharati in the previous year will continue with more vigour as listed below:

i) Providing Free Bicycle to all the students studying in Class-IX in Government and Provincialized Secondary Schools,

ii. Providing free text-books and

iii. Textbook assistance to students upto graduation,

iv. Hostel mess dues waiver of maximum Rs 2000 per month for under-graduate and post-graduate courses in degree and polytechnic colleges,

V. Scooty to all meritorious boys and girls who secure first division in higher secondary examination,

vi. Mobility grant of Rs 10,000/- per year to post-graduate students- excluding medical students,

vii. Admission fee waiver to all BPL students, Anundoram Barooah Award to eligible students passing HSLC,

 

In a major relief for farmers, the finance minister announced that farmers will not be required to pay agriculture income tax for up to three years. Additionally, tea communities will now receive a 3% reservation in government jobs.

The government plans to strengthen cross-border ties by setting up border haats along the Assam-Bangladesh border in Karimganj and Dhubri. Moreover, the cross-border bus service from Guwahati to Dhaka via Shillong will also resume soon.

To curb crime in the state, the CCTVs will be installed in various locations. Rs 200 crore has been allotted in the budget for this initiative. Furthermore, the state government of Assam is encouraging the use of electronic vehicles by providing a 2% motor vehicle tax subvention to citizens purchasing such vehicles.

The budget also includes provisions for healthcare and education. 9 new B.Sc. Nursing colleges will be set up in medical colleges, and 1000 new ambulances will be provided to hospitals in the state. Additionally, 500 high schools will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 2500 crores and tablets will be given to students who pass their Class 9 exams.

The government also aims to eliminate child marriage from the state by 2026, and has earmarked Rs 200 crores to achieve this goal.

Rs 1,400 per month will be given to women beneficiaries under the Orunodoi scheme, while Rs 1,000 crore has been sanctioned for self-help scheme.

The budget includes provisions for water transport development, opening 4 new polytechnic and engineering colleges, and 5 setting up new medical colleges and 119 Adarsh Vidyalayas in Assam.

“Mukhyamantri Lok Seva Arogya Yojana” to be launched to simplify medical payment process. Government employees, pensioners and their dependents can avail this scheme.

Under Chief Minister’s MSME Loan Relief Scheme, 3% interest concession will be provided to beneficiaries through loan linked subsidy.

Rs. 108 crores alloted for “Apun Ghor Achoni”. Rs. 12 crores alloted for “Apun Bahon Achoni.”

2% interest concession will be given to government employees for obtaining motorcycle loans. 3% interest concession will be given for women and specially abled employees.