Indus Valley Times

By Dalim Phukan

Guwahati/Assam , Sep 18 : Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday disbursed financial assistance amounting to ₹278 crore to 82,219 aspiring young men and women under the Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan (CM-AAA).

The assistance was digitally transferred at a programme held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati as part of the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’. The amount included the second instalment for 9,578 beneficiaries selected under the first phase of CM-AAA and the second component of the first instalment for 72,641 beneficiaries selected under the second phase.

Under CM-AAA 1.0, launched on September 23, 2023, financial assistance was initially provided to 25,277 young men and women. Beneficiaries with general educational qualifications received ₹2 lakh each, while those possessing professional degrees were provided assistance based on their project reports.

Under CM-AAA 2.0, launched on October 18, 2024, one-time assistance was provided to 74,350 aspiring young men and women and 344 OBB teachers. In the latest disbursement, more than ₹182 crore was released to selected beneficiaries. General-category beneficiaries received ₹25,000 each as the second component of the first instalment, while beneficiaries with professional degrees received ₹50,000.

Addressing the gathering, Sarma urged the youth of Assam to become self-reliant through creativity, technical skills and hard work and to play an active role in building an Atmanirbhar Asom. He said the success of the scheme would depend on beneficiaries making productive use of the financial assistance and developing sustainable livelihoods.

The Chief Minister said the State Government was working to create an environment conducive to industrial growth and employment generation. He called upon young people to supply raw materials to industries being established in Assam.

Referring to the PepsiCo plant recently inaugurated at Nalbari, Sarma said the plant would require up to 70,000 metric tonnes of potatoes annually, which would require around 5,000 farmers to meet the demand. He said failure to produce the required quantity within the State could result in dependence on supplies from outside Assam.

Sarma also highlighted the gap between demand and local production of essential commodities. He said Assam requires around 20 lakh litres of milk and approximately 60 lakh eggs every day, while the State produces only about 2 lakh litres of milk and 6 lakh eggs respectively.

He urged the younger generation to take up agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and small-scale industries, saying such activities could strengthen household livelihoods while reducing Assam’s dependence on other States.

Emphasising food processing and value addition, the Chief Minister said these interventions could help farmers obtain greater value from their agricultural produce. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat 2047’, he said the State Government was working towards building an ‘Atmanirbhar Asom’ by 2047.

Sarma said the State Government’s objective was to make Assam one of the top-performing States in the country and called upon the youth to contribute to the endeavour through hard work, sacrifice and a positive mindset.

He announced that another 50,000 young men and women would be brought under CM-AAA during the current year, with the application process scheduled to begin shortly. The State Government has set a target of extending the scheme to five lakh young men and women across Assam.

At the programme, the Chief Minister also formally announced the commencement of the Youth Welfare and Empowerment Department, which has been constituted to implement welfare schemes and initiatives for the youth of Assam.

Earlier, Sarma visited an exhibition showcasing products manufactured by entrepreneurs who had established themselves with assistance received under CM-AAA.

Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Bora, MPs Bijuli Kalita Medhi and Terash Gowala, several MLAs, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota and other dignitaries attended the programme.

Later in the day, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, Sarma visited the historic Tongora Satra in Guwahati, where he offered prayers by lighting a lamp and planted a sapling on the Satra premises.