Assam: Budget to benefit middle class largely, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has termed the state budget 2021-22 as a welfare-oriented budget, which will benefit the middle class to a large extent.
He lauded finance minister Ajanta Neog for placing the Rs 1.07-lakh crore budget proposal without imposing any additional tax burden. This, he said, gives a clear outline of his government’s commitment to fulfil the promises made to the people.
Sarma underlined the budget proposals for waiving the loans of microfinance institutions (MFI) to eligible beneficiaries, jobs for unemployed youths, increase in the number of beneficiaries and monthly financial assistance under the Orunodoi scheme as very significant.
"The budget gives a glimpse of the revolution envisioned by the government in the field of agriculture as efforts are already on to make the state ‘Atmanirbhar’ in agriculture, horticulture, dairy and veterinary sector," Sarma said.
He said there is an outline in the budget to fulfill two major poll promises: to free 26 lakh women from the clutches of microfinance loans and one lakh jobs to the unemployed.
Also, Himanta said beneficiaries of the Orunodoi scheme, meant for needy women, will increase up to 5,000 in each constituency with a monthly allocation of Rs 1,000 to each. This is a tribute to the mothers from the government, he added.
Sarma further stated that proposals made in the budget for electricity connection in every anganwadi centre, setting up around 1,000 hospitals in rural areas, apart from the construction of five new medical colleges were revolutionary.
The budgetary proposal of smartphones to almost eight lakh Class IX and Class X students of government schools to break the online education barrier came as a pleasant surprise.
Himanta admitted that the Covid-induced situation led to a digital divide which was about to cripple the education system. Keeping this in mind, he said the budget proposal regarding smartphones to students of poor families would help the government in addressing the digital divide.
"Many students from middle class families study in government schools. A large number of such students lag behind in online classes when compared to English medium school students," Sarma said.
He also said the free cooked meal for the urban poor is an exemplary welfare scheme in the budget. Sarma appreciated the measures announced for augmenting revenue generation in the budget.