Ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities, the Assam state government has rolled out a package of festive decisions aimed at supporting economically vulnerable households, tea garden labourers, and government employees. The measures were formally approved during a state cabinet meeting conducted at Lok Sewa Bhawan, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma outlining the specifics while briefing reporters afterwards.
Enhanced October Assistance for Orunodoi Beneficiaries
Under the decisions sanctioned by the cabinet, beneficiaries enrolled in the Orunodoi welfare scheme will receive a one-time special sum of Rs 1,500 in October. The welfare programme routinely extends monthly financial backing to qualifying individuals belonging to financially underprivileged households across the state. The temporary enhancement is intended to ease household spending during the major festive season.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pointed out that this increased financial assistance remains strictly designated for October in view of Durga Puja. However, he also hinted that eligible beneficiaries might receive a comparable supplementary payment in April as a special gift during the Bihu celebrations.
20 Percent Bonus Approved for ATCL Plantation Workers
In another major step geared towards plantation labour ahead of the celebrations, the cabinet sanctioned a 20 percent bonus for workers across tea gardens run by Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL). The measure ensures uniform festive compensation for personnel employed under state-run tea estates.
Addressing broader industry compliance, the Chief Minister shared that out of 807 tea estates operating throughout Assam, 548 gardens have already announced a 20 percent bonus for their workforce. Negotiations remain underway across the remaining 259 private tea estates. Sarma called on the management teams of those pending gardens to match the benchmark and release a full 20 percent bonus to their staff. The Chief Minister also wrote on X expressing hope that these measures would make the festive period brighter for citizens.
Extra Public Holiday Declared on October 17
The cabinet also addressed the festival schedule by notifying October 17 as an additional public holiday for state employees during Durga Puja.
Explaining the move, Sarma noted that the conventional three-day Durga Puja holiday calendar was effectively reduced this year because one of the primary festival days coincides with a Sunday. Approving October 17 as an extra holiday compensates for the overlapping weekend, giving government staff sufficient time to observe the festival with their families.
