Assam Cabinet Assures People of Transparency over National Register of Citizens (NRC) Draft

* Slew of important decisions gets approval

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 23: The Assam Cabinet has rest assured the people of the State that no genuine Indian’s name will be dropped from the NRC. The Cabinet that met on Monday took a number of important decisions.

Dispelling fear from the mind of people who have been apprehensive of their names not appearing in the complete draft NRC going to be published on July 30, the Assam Cabinet has said that people whose names will not appear in the complete draft NRC will be given ample opportunities for claims and objections.

Different phases of Gunatsav in the State did expose a number of shortcomings in educational infrastructure in various schools in the State. To do away with the shortcomings, the State Cabinet has approved the decision taken to seek Rs 487-crore loan from NABARD.

Invest Assam, a company, may see light of the day with the Cabinet approving it on Monday. This company was conceived by the State Government with a view to taking the Global Investors’ Summit a step forward and bringing about long-term investments to the State.

General university and college teachers in the State get salaries in UGC scales, but their counterparts in engineering colleges do not. Teachers of engineering institutes have something to cheer about now with the State Cabinet giving its nod for payment of their salaries in accordance with UGC scales.

The Cabinet meeting has also extended the upper age limit of job-seeking candidates belonging to OBC and MOBC up to 46 years from the existing 43 years. Another Cabinet decision that has much to do with air connectivity amongst the State capitals in the north-eastern region is reduction of GST under Udan from the existing five per cent to one per cent.

The Cabinet has also approved the decision for alternative rehabilitation of people whose lands were acquired while setting up IIT-Guwahati in North Guwahati. The decision for allocation of Rs 6 crore for the development of cattle feed land in the State has also got approval from the Cabinet.

Unmarried girls can also get lifelong half pension after the death of their parents either or both of whom were state government employees. Earlier, unmarried girls used to get half pension after the death of their employee parents up to 21 years on age.

Meanwhile, the practice of sub-leasing IMFL bottling plants is going to be passé as the State Cabinet has brought changes in Excise Rules to put it to an end.

The Cabinet has also approved the creation of a new forest division – Biswanath Wildlife Division— and to attach it with the Kaziranga National Park.