Assam announces sops before Panchayat poll

Guwahati, Nov 26 (UNI) The Assam Government today announced sops for rural people on the eve of the Panchayat Poll notification, pumping in additional rural development package worth Rs 250 crores.

The package was unveiled by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while addressing a news conference at Jorhat today. According to the package, there would be a cabinet committee to look into separate development council for Adivasi, Moran and Motok people.

Again allocation of development fund for the Tea Tribes, Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribes, Backward class would also be increased, he said.

Mr Gogoi hurriedly announced the package as the notification for the Panchayat Poll would be issued tomorrow.

Furthermore, an amount of Rs 50 crore each have been announced for the ''Char Area Development Fund'' and ''Border Area Development fund''. Moreover, a new Rural Development authorities are being set up for each district.

Besides, a new rural employment generation scheme as well as rural housing scheme for those above poverty line have been announced.

The Chief Minister also announced that daily wages for NREGA labours had been increased to Rs 100 per day, while old age pensions had gone up to Rs 300 now. Altogether 17 lakh people were under the old age scheme.

Regarding Self Help Groups(SGH), the chief minister announced that the state government would support the SHGs by offering two per cent subsidy on the interest.

All these new schemes are to be covered by the next budget and work on these will start from the next financial year.

UNI