Sonowal chairs first Cabinet meeting

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today chaired the first Cabinet meeting of the BJP-led government in the state in which several decisions like converting Majuli, the world's largest river island, to a district, were taken.
The Cabinet has decided to upgrade Majuli sub-division to a full-fledged district and inaugurate it before August 31, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said.
It decided to appoint 10,000 teachers in different schools of the state before March 31 next year and appoint 700 new doctors in government-run hospitals.
In line with the recommendations of Jahnu Barua Committee, it was decided to rationalise entertainment tax and service charge for exhibition of cinema. Service charges would be reduced from Rs 40 per ticket to Rs 8 per ticket for non-AC cinema halls and Rs 12 per ticket for AC cinema halls.

The Cabinet also decided to create a welfare fund "Silpi and Kalakaushali Kalyan Nidhi" for cine-artistes and technicians and increase the share of the producers by collecting Re one from each cinema-goer.
Constitution of District Mineral Foundation under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner in each district was also approved in the meeting, the spokesperson said.
The Cabinet also decided to grant one-time ex gratia of Rs three lakh to the next-of-kin of 45 journalists who lost their lives in various incidents of violence in the state. It also gave its nod to convene the Budget Session of the Assembly from July 18 to August 12, the spokesperson said.

It also congratulated Angaraag Mahanta (Papon) on winning the best Playback Singer (Male) Award at 'IIFA 2016'.