Assam FM Ajanta Neog presents Assam Budget 2023-24; Here are the highlights

The Assam Finance Minister presented a Rs 935.24 cr deficit budget at the Assam Assembly today

The Finance Minister of Assam, Ajanta Neog presented the Assam Budget 2023-24 at the Assam Assembly today. This was Neog’s second state budget. She presented a Rs 935.24 cr deficit budget. For the first time, the Assam Budget announced a Green Budget.

Here are the highlights of the Assam Budget 2023-24:

• Rs 200 crore for the anti-child marriage campaign, with a focus on surveillance, institutional strengthening, the introduction of support services, and victim rehabilitation.
• Self Help Group members to receive Rs 1000 via direct transfer. The members will be paid Rs 10,000 each at the next stage of approval.
• Rs 5000 will be given to each village to celebrate foundation day
• Rs 180 crore to Assam Darshan Scheme
• 8,000 new namghars
  -Rs 2.5 lakh per religious ceremony
  -Rs 15 lakh each for religious ceremonies that are more than 100 years old
  -Development of Kamakhya Corridor
  -Rs. 107 crore for the development of tourism facilities in Rangghar
  -Conversion of Matiabagh Palace into a Museum

-Assam Government to enhance Orunodoi entitlement by Rs 150, making it Rs 1400 per beneficiary per month by the end of this financial year. Rs 3420 crore was earmarked for this scheme.

-Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS), 2020 will be further strengthened to incentivize the production of orthodox tea and specialty tea in Assam.

• Increase in the production subsidy for orthodox and specialty 19 tea from Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kg is already under process.
• Tax holiday extended on Agricultural Income Tax for a period of the next three years.
• As a special relief, all the arrear electricity dues of tea garden worker families living in the lines will be waived off as a one-time measure by the government. Rs 150 crore is to be earmarked for the same.
• The amount of compassionate money for pregnant women in tea garden areas will be increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000

-Rs 2,500 crore to Pragyan Bharti for construction of infrastructure, renovation, upgradation of schools, setting up of higher secondary schools in tea garden areas, etc.

-The Assam Urban Health Mission will be launched to provide affordable and quality healthcare to the urban masses.

• Rs 800 crore to Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana with equal assistance like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to be provided to one lakh beneficiaries.

-Organizing sports maharan (sports events) and cultural mohagram (cultural events) in revenue villages for the identification of sports and cultural talents
• Rs. 10,000 for sports to each revenue village and Rs. 10,000 for cultural mohagram (cultural events)

• Total Budget: Rs 60 crore

-Urban Road Widening Scheme for the construction of an additional 3000 km of road for a better transportation system

• Rs 15,102 crore for the development of infrastructure in the form of roads and buildings under the Department of Public Works
• Setting up of Assam State Commission for Right to Public Service
  • Shall have the power to punish nominated public servants who fail to provide notified services within the stipulated time

-Rs 108 crore to home scheme

-Rs 12 crore to vehicle scheme

-2% interest subvention on government employees for availing motorcycle loans

-3% interest subvention for women and divyang employees

• ‘Mukhyamantri Lok Seva Arogya Yojana’ to be launched for simplification of the medical payment process

• Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents can avail of the scheme

-Chief Minister’s Small Initiative Incentive Scheme

• Up to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs per entrepreneur as a capital subsidy of 10% of the fixed capital investment of the entrepreneur

Chief Minister’s MSME Loan Waiver Scheme

• 3% interest subvention to beneficiaries through loan-linked subsidy

Also Read : Assam’s first Green Budget. All you need to know

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