by Bhupen Goswami

GUWAHATI : Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated ambitious Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021 at a programme held at Collegiate High School playground in Tezpur. The Chief Minister ceremonially distributed cheques to 5 beneficiaries in the programme. The scheme would benefit a total of 24 lakh women beneficiaries in the State while 59,468 women would receive reliefs amounting from Rs.16,000-Rs.25,000 in Sonitpur district.

Today the Chief Minister inaugurated the first phase of the scheme for those borrowers who have been repaying regularly. They will be provided one-time incentive upto Rs.25,000/- or outstanding balance, whichever is less. This is an incentive for them to continue maintaining good credit discipline. Total 11 lakh women would benefit during this phase of the scheme. In the month of November, beneficiaries of 8 districts namely – Sonitpur, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao will be provided their due incentives through account payee cheques. In the second phase, relief would be provided to borrowers whose payments are overdue by 1-89 days and for accounts which are overdue but not NPA.

The State Government will pay the overdue amounts. In the third phase, borrowers who are stressed, destitute and whose accounts have become NPA will be covered. Government will consider providing partial or full relief based on evaluation. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sharma said that the state government has been able to fulfil its election promise of microfinance loan relief within six months and the state government will continue to march forward with the same zeal in the future as well.

He also announced that the commitment of providing one lakh jobs would also be fulfilled before May 10 next year. He said that every poor household in the state would be brought under the ambit of Arunoday scheme and 5000 additional beneficiaries would also be added in every constituency. He also announced several developmental schemes for Tezpur town at the programme. Earlier today, the Chief Minister inaugurated a 30 bed Paediatric ICU (PICU), 30 bed ICU and 24 residential quarters for professors at Tezpur medical College and Hospital. Notably, there are 15 ICU beds and 15 step down beds at the paediatric ICU. Set up with an investment of Rs. 4.45 crore the PICU is expected to fulfil The requirements of child treatment to a great extent.On the other hand, the Covid isolation ward in the Medical College has been turned into a 30 bed ICU block in view of growing demands. The block has been set up with a total cost of Rs.1.487 crore under SOPD scheme of 2021-22. Similarly, 24 residential quarters for faculty members of TMCH have been made with a total cost of Rs.19.71 crore under TNIF scheme 2017-18. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog and Urban Development Department Minister Ashok Singhal also spoke at the programme which was attended by several other dignitaries.