Assam: State Cabinet takes a Slew of Decisions

n ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme to bring back bodies n Rs 2,000 honorarium for Cook-cum-Helper n Creation of State Mineral Exploration Trust

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The State Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, approved the ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme, which will enable the state government to facilitate an easy, lawful and coordinated transportation of dead bodies who are of the domicile of the state of Assam from other states to Assam, among others. The scheme will be implemented from October 1, 2025.

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, the CM said, “The scheme will be applicable primarily for youth engaged in low-paying jobs outside the state, along with those who have died in special circumstances, such as murder and accidents. The scheme will not include cases of death during medical treatments outside the state.

The CM also informed that the Special Branch (SB) of the Assam Police will be the Nodal Agency, wherein a DIG-level officer will remain the Nodal Officer to ensure that bodies of residents of Assam are brought back with respect. Family members will inform through local administration, police, or by dialling 112. Moreover, a social media ID will be created dedicatedly for the purpose.

“Already 15 dead bodies have been brought back to Assam without the implementation of the ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme,” he added.

The Cabinet has also approved the creation of the Rabha Development Council for Rabha people residing outside the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area. The proposed council will undertake welfare schemes to promote the socio-economic, educational, and cultural uplift of the Rabha community living beyond the territorial jurisdiction of RHAC.

In Sunday’s meeting, the State Cabinet approved the declaration of the transgender community as “Socially and Educationally Backward Classes” in Assam, in line with the spirit of the direction of the Supreme Court. While providing Transgender Identity Cards, the district commissioners will ensure that the applicants produce proof of being original inhabitants of Assam.

Moreover, the state cabinet approved a proposal to fill up to 50 per cent of the total Supervisor posts from among serving eligible Anganwadi workers with at least 10 years of experience and a graduation degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, or allied disciplines. The remaining posts will be filled up through direct recruitment, which is now being done through the State Level Recruitment Commission for Class III Posts.

The CM clarified that, earlier, 25 per cent of the supervisors posts were reserved for Anganwadi workers who had completed a service tenure of 10 years.

Moreover, the Cabinet approved the proposal to notify 1256 hectares of the Urpad Beel and 245 hectares of Hasila Beel, both in Goalpara district, as Proposed Reserve Forests (PRFs) under Section 5 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. A period of one month will be given to the public to register their opinion, etc.

The State Cabinet also approved the enhancement of additional honorarium for Cook-cum-Helpers engaged under the PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme in Assam from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per month, effective October 2025, for 10 months annually. A cook-cum-helper will now get Rs 2,000 per month.

CM Dr Sarma said, “From October, the Cook-cum-Helpers will get Rs 2,000 per month as honorarium. Of this, an amount of Rs 1000 will be borne by the Government of India and Rs 1000 by the Assam government. The state government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 108 crore for this.”

On Sunday, the state cabinet also approved the 1st Annual Incremental benefit to the newly appointed teachers in LP, UP and Secondary Schools under the Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) in July 2025, as per provisions of the ROP Rules 2017. The 1st annual incremental benefit shall be provided in the month of July 2025, instead of July 2026.

Cabinet has approved the extension of the “Apon Ghar” and “Apon Bahan” schemes to regular employees and those contractual employees engaged up to the age of 60 years in the following 5 PSUs and societies: National Health Mission, Assam; Samagra Shiksha Axom; Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd.; Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd.; and Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd.

The formulation of the Assam State Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2025, for the creation of the State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET) to promote exploration of minor minerals such as sand, gravel, stone, granite, limestone, quartzite, china clay, etc., was also approved by the Cabinet today.

The State Cabinet, today, approved the allotment of a self-identified PSP site to Hinduja Renewables Energy Private Limited for the development of a 900 MW off-stream Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in West Karbi Anglong District. With an investment of Rs. 5,400 crores, this project will contribute towards achieving the state’s target of 2 GW PSP capacity by 2030.

Land for setting up a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) was also approved today, after the transfer of 40 bighas of government land located at Chandrapur Bagicha village in Chandrapur Revenue Circle, Kamrup (M), to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

The State Cabinet, moreover, approved the establishment of the Rs 3,000 crore SEBI-registered Assam Industrial and Green Growth Fund – an Alternate Investment Fund for Assam with an anchor investment of Rs 500 crore in a phased manner so as to mobilise long-term capital for renewable energy, green infrastructure, priority startups, agro-tech, tourism, MSMEs and other priority sectors.

Regarding a new 3,000 MW thermal power project, the CM said, “We have decided to set up a 3,000 MW thermal power project in Assam. For this project, a tender will be floated, and maybe several parties will participate in it. An investment of Rs 40,000 crore is entailed for the project. Like the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad, if this plant is established in Kokranjhar, the BTR will be developed. We also thought the local people would welcome the setting up of such a plant. But we don’t want a bad name from people that we snatched land from tribal people to set up this plant. We have already arranged for two alternate sites in Dhubri and Goalpara districts. The foundation stone for the project will be laid in November.”

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