Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday the reservation of 5% of seats in engineering colleges for students who have completed their education in government schools from class 7 to 12. The move aims to encourage greater enrollment in state-run schools. The announcement came following a state Cabinet meeting in Tinsukia, where the Chief Minister disclosed various key decisions made by the government.
While initially mentioning the reservation of seats in medical colleges, the official decisions posted on his official handle clarified that the 5% quota applies exclusively to engineering colleges.
The cabinet also approved a sum of Rs 438.27 crore for three projects under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam, 2019, to boost industrial growth in the state. These projects include a bamboo crash barrier manufacturing unit in Bongaigaon, a hotel by Tata Group in Kaziranga, and a second Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. Collectively, these projects are expected to generate nearly 1,400 new jobs. Additionally, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Authority of Assam will be established, headed by an IAS officer, to attract more CSR funds to the state.
To simplify land-related matters, the cabinet decided to categorize all land under five broad categories, replacing the existing system of around 100 nomenclatures, which often led to confusion among the public.
Chief Minister Sarma highlighted that around 2.25 lakh people are anticipated to have their land-related issues resolved by the end of ‘Mission Basundhara 2.0,’ concluding at the end of the current month.
Other decisions include the release of Rs 100 crore to Assam Tea Corporation Ltd for the payment of interest on delayed deposit of provident fund to Assam Tea Employees Provident Fund Organisation. Additionally, Partial Decentralised Procurement (DCP) will be implemented in Bongaigaon and Biswanath districts for streamlined paddy procurement during Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24.
Further measures involve increasing the upper age limit for public prosecutors and additional public prosecutors by five years, as well as granting ration cards to retired fourth-grade government employees.
The Chief Minister emphasized that several decisions focused on the development of Tinsukia district, including projects like a multi-level car parking facility, an interstate bus terminus, a truck terminal in Tinsukia town, and infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and a stadium in other parts of the district.
Sarma concluded by announcing that the next cabinet meeting will be held in Lakhimpur in January and in Nalbari in February, aligning with the government’s strategy to conduct meetings in different parts of the state.
