Page 16 - Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam rolls out ration card distribution for 4.2 million new beneficiaries

Ration card distribution to over 42 lakh new beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has started in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launching it in his constituency Jalukbari. Sarma, attending the launch programme at Boripara area on Tuesday, termed it a milestone event in the current government's regime. A total of 42,85,745 new beneficiaries will be covered under the NFSA in the state, with ceremonial distribution of ration cards to be held across the state, an official release said. "This is another milestone in the current government's quest for achieving food security of all its residents," Sarma said. He said every member of ration card-holder families are entitled to 5 kgs of rice every month free of cost. He said this facility is available every month during the "anna sewa saptah" and that for this month, this shall be available till January 31. Mentioning of social sector schemes such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Sarma said those belonging t

Assam will be third state to introduce Uniform Civil Code: CM Himanta

Assam will be the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to introduce a Bill seeking a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and it will exempt the tribal communities from the ambit of the law, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Thursday. A UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption and succession are to be covered by a common code. 'We are waiting for the Uttarakhand Bill on UCC and after it is introduced, Assam will follow it with certain additional clauses,' the chief minister said at a press conference here. The Assam model will have certain innovative points as the state is fighting against child marriage and polygamy, he said. The Bill will, however, exempt the tribal communities from its ambit, Sarma said. 'We will go through the Uttarakhand Bill and see if public consultations will be possible within the next two to three months,' he said. If, however, certain ...

Congress didn't deserve Ram mandir invitation: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Congress could have apologised to the Hindu community by accepting the Ram temple invitation

More than 2.9 mn people benefited in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra: Assam CM

The Chief Minister, during the meeting, also took stock of the progress of distribution of ration cards to the beneficiaries

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Assam got record investment proposal of over Rs 11,000 cr in 2023: CM Sarma

Assam received a record investment proposal worth over Rs 11,000 crore in 2023 through which more than 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said. The chief minister said here on Thursday that a conducive environment for investment was created in 2023 and during the "landmark year", the state's industrial landscape changed under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam (Amendment), 2023. "In 2023, Assam saw a record investment proposal of over Rs 11,000 crore with proposed generation of more than 10,000 jobs due to our path-breaking customised incentive policy," Sarma said. Under the new industrial policy, customised incentives were offered for mega projects which have a minimum investment of Rs 100 crore and a minimum of 200 permanent employees. The highlights of the scheme in 2023 are a total of 17 investors, a proposed investment of Rs 11,753.7 crore, a proposed capital investment of Rs 8,775.5 crore and proposed generation of 10,906

Assam CM flags off 200 green buses from Guwahati to curb pollution

State Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya also attended the flag-off ceremony of 200 AC E-buses

ULFA signs peace accord with Centre, Assam govt to join mainstream

The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and Assam governments agreeing to shun violence and join the mainstream. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and the government, officials said. The peace pact is expected to end decades old insurgency in Assam. However, the hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990. The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspens

ULFA, Centre, Assam govt to sign settlement accord in New Delhi on Friday

Assam Chief Minister's Office has announced that a tripartite memorandum of settlement between the ULFA (pro-talks faction) and the central and state governments will be signed in New Delhi on Friday. 'A Memorandum of Settlement will be signed between the Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in presence of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Sh. Amit Shah tomorrow at 5 pm in New Delhi', the CMO posted on 'X' on Thursday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is scheduled to be present during the signing, also retweeted the post. A16-member delegation of the ULFA pro-talks faction, led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, reached New Delhi on Wednesday to hold discussions with Shah before the signing of the accord. The outfit's general secretary, Anup Chetia, has been camping in New Delhi since Monday and held talks with the peace interlocutor AK Mishra on Tuesday. The Centre had sent a draft of the

Tripartite peace accord between ULFA, Centre, Assam govt likely on Dec 29

A tripartite accord is likely to be signed on December 29 between the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the central and Assam governments, aiming to bring a lasting peace in the northeastern state, sources said on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and over a dozen top leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa, will be present at the signing of the peace agreement here. The accord will take care of a host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people, the sources privy to the development said. The hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Paresh Baruah, will not be part of the agreement as he has been consistently rejecting the olive branch offered by the government. Two top leaders of the Rajkhowa group -- Anup Chetia and Sashdhar Choudh

Accelerated development in Assam due to govt initiatives: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the state is witnessing accelerated development, with government initiatives fueling the growth. He expressed confidence that Assam will be among the top states in the country within a few years if this pace of development is maintained. Sarma was speaking after inaugurating projects worth Rs 114.17 crore in Jagiroad in Morigaon district on Sunday. Addressing a public gathering, he said the government was on track to fulfilling its promises, including providing jobs to one lakh youths. Among other measures are providing loan without mortgages to youths under the Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan. With the aim of ushering in a movement of inclusive financial empowerment, an amount of Rs 10,000 each shall be credited to the accounts of the 40-lakh members of self-help groups, the CM added. He said the accelerated development is also owing to an environment that keeps strifes and strikes at bay. "Another 10 years wi

Assam aims to attain food self-sufficiency in next two years: CM Sarma

The Assam Chief Minister said that, during the recent Assembly election campaigns in five states, he had an opportunity to see the "best practices of farmers in other states."

Bill to ban polygamy to be introduced in assembly by Feb, says Assam CM

A bill to ban polygamy will be introduced in the next session of the Assam assembly to be held in February, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Friday. The bill has been formulated after months of consultations with various individuals and organisations. Talking to reporters, Sarma said, "The bill to ban polygamy will be placed on the floor of the Assam assembly which will commence from February 4." The chief minister had earlier said that some points would be incorporated in the bill with the objective to stop "Love Jihad" in the state. Officials said that the state government had received as many as 149 suggestions in response to a public notice seeking feedback on the proposed law to ban the practice of marrying multiple times. Out of these, 146 suggestions were in favour of the bill, indicating strong public support, they said. Three organisations have expressed their opposition to the bill. The state government had issued a notice on August 21 inviting publ

'Will try to delete forged names from NRC list': Assam Chief Minister Sarma

The Assam Chief Minister made this statement at the time when there was an allegation that a large number of people's names were enrolled in the NRC list by forgery

Socio-economic study of indigenous Assam Muslims to be conducted: Himanta

The Assam government said it will conduct a socio-economic assessment of indigenous Assamese Muslims of the state. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma here on Friday. "A socio-economic assessment of indigenous Assamese Muslims will be conducted through the Directorate of Minority Affairs and Char Areas," Sarma posted on X. The meeting decided that the Directorate of Char Areas Development, Assam, will be renamed as the Directorate of Minority Affairs and Char Areas, Assam. The cabinet also gave in-principle approval to the issue of detailed procedure/standard operating procedure (SOP) for permitting traditional buffalo and bullfights that are organised during Magh Bihu. The SOP aims to ensure that no deliberate torture or cruelty is carried out on the animals and their well-being is provided for by the organisers during the annual buffalo fights, an integral part of the centuries-old Assamese cultural tradition. The council of

Citizens believe in only one guarantee, that of PM Modi: Assam CM Sarma

The BJP, with its stunning mandates in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, stumped not just their rivals but also some pollsters who had predicted tight races in these states

Would be different, if Modi had been PM: Assam CM on 26/11 anniversary

Meanwhile, PM Modi on Sunday paid homage to the victims of the dastardly 26/11 terror attack

Chhattisgarh polls: Congress in nexus with Naxalites, says Himanta Biswa

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel and his government for having a nexus with the Naxalites

Chhattisgarh polls: Lord Mahadev will not spare Baghel, says Himanta Sarma

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Lord Mahadev will not spare his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel and will seek account of every single penny

EC has to take further action: Himanta Sarma on notice to Priyanka Gandhi

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her "false statement" against PM Narendra Modi in a public rally in MP.