Assam Cabinet rolls out sweeping reforms: new welfare schemes, job boosts, and green energy push

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 22, 2025

The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, unveiled a string of major policy decisions on Sunday, covering everything from welfare and employment to green energy and conservation.

“One of the key highlights was the approval of the ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme, which will provide state-supported, lawful, and dignified transportation of deceased Assamese domiciles from other states back to Assam. Set to launch on October 1, the scheme targets youth in low-paying jobs and victims of accidents or unnatural deaths, excluding those who pass away while under medical treatment. Assam Police’s Special Branch will be the nodal agency, led by a DIG-level officer, and will coordinate through a dedicated helpline and social media ID,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet also cleared the formation of the Rabha Development Council, aimed at supporting Rabha communities living outside the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. The body will undertake socio-economic and cultural welfare programs for the community.

Anganwadi workers with over 10 years of experience will now be eligible to fill up to 50% of supervisor posts in their department. The rest will be recruited via the State Level Recruitment Commission for Class III posts.

A landmark decision was the declaration of the transgender community as a Socially and Educationally Backward Class in Assam. Transgender Identity Cards will be issued to original inhabitants of the state, and verified by District Commissioners.

In a major push for ecological conservation, the Cabinet approved the declaration of Urpad Beel (1,256 ha) and Hasila Beel (245 ha) in Goalpara district as Proposed Reserve Forests. The public will be allowed a month to share feedback on the Hasila Beel notification.

The Cabinet also doubled the honorarium for Cook-cum-Helpers under the PM POSHAN scheme from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month, effective October, raising their total pay to Rs 2,000 per month for 10 months annually.

Newly appointed teachers under the Special Recruitment Drive in LP, UP, and Secondary Schools will receive their first annual increment in July 2025, a year earlier than originally scheduled under the ROP Rules 2017.

Widening its welfare reach, the Cabinet approved the extension of “Apon Ghar” and “Apon Bahan” schemes to regular and contractual employees (up to age 60) in five major PSUs and societies, including NHM Assam, Samagra Shiksha, and APDCL.

To promote responsible mining, the government will establish the State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET) under the newly approved Assam State Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2025, to explore minor minerals like sand, gravel, limestone, and more.

In the renewable energy sector, the Cabinet greenlit the allotment of land for a Rs 5,400 crore Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in West Karbi Anglong by Hinduja Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd. The 900 MW project aims to help the state meet its 2 GW PSP target by 2030 and will boost grid stability and renewable energy storage.

To support education, 40 bighas of government land in Kamrup (M) will be transferred to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to establish a new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), bolstering regional educational infrastructure.

Lastly, the Cabinet announced the creation of a Rs 3,000 crore Assam Industrial and Green Growth Fund, a SEBI-registered Alternate Investment Fund with an anchor investment of ₹500 crore. The fund will channel long-term capital into renewable energy, agro-tech, tourism, MSMEs, and other critical growth sectors.