Guwahati, June 22: The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Sunday announced a series of wide-ranging decisions, headlined by the launch of the ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme, aimed at ensuring dignified transportation of deceased Assamese residents from outside the state back to their homeland.
Set to roll out on October 1, the scheme will primarily benefit youth working low-income jobs outside Assam and those who die in unnatural circumstances such as accidents or murder. It will not cover deaths due to medical treatment.
The Special Branch of Assam Police will serve as the nodal agency, headed by a DIG-level officer, and coordinate efforts through a dedicated helpline (112) and official social media channel.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the creation of a Rabha Development Council for Rabha people living beyond the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area. The Council will focus on socio-economic, cultural, and educational welfare.
The Cabinet also reserved 50% of supervisor posts in the Women and Child Development department for Anganwadi workers with 10+ years of service, while the remaining positions will be filled through direct recruitment by the State Level Recruitment Commission for Class III posts.
Making a significant policy move, the state government declared the transgender community as a Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC). Transgender Identity Cards will be issued to original inhabitants of Assam, verified by the District Commissioners.
To boost environmental protection, the Cabinet declared Urpad Beel (1,256 hectares) and Hasila Beel (245 hectares) in Goalpara as Proposed Reserve Forests. A month-long window will be given for public feedback on Hasila Beel’s notification.
The Cabinet also doubled the honorarium for Cook-cum-Helpers under the PM POSHAN scheme, raising it from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month, effective October. Workers will now receive ₹2,000 monthly for 10 months a year.
In a move to reward educators, newly appointed teachers under the Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) will receive their first annual increment in July 2025, a year ahead of the previous schedule outlined in the ROP Rules 2017.
The Cabinet expanded the “Apon Ghar” and “Apon Bahan” schemes to include regular and contractual employees up to 60 years of age in five major PSUs and societies — including NHM Assam, Samagra Shiksha, and Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL).
To support responsible mining, the government approved the formation of the State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET) under the Assam State Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2025, enabling the exploration of minor minerals like sand, gravel, limestone, quartzite, and china clay.
A major renewable energy push also received Cabinet backing. The state allotted land in West Karbi Anglong to Hinduja Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd for a ₹5,400 crore 900 MW Pumped Storage Project. The project will support grid stability and help Assam reach its 2 GW PSP target by 2030.
In education, the Cabinet approved the transfer of 40 bighas of government land in Kamrup (M) to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to set up a new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) — aimed at strengthening regional educational equity.
The Cabinet also greenlit the creation of a ₹3,000 crore Assam Industrial and Green Growth Fund, a SEBI-registered Alternate Investment Fund seeded with an initial ₹500 crore investment. The fund is intended to drive long-term capital into renewables, agro-tech, tourism, MSMEs, and startups across priority sectors.
