In a major push for modern agriculture, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that 1,000 progressive and educated farmers across the state will be honored with the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Excellence Award this year, with each recipient receiving a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Promoting Sustainable Farming and Youth Engagement
Sarma stated that the initiative is specifically designed to encourage educated young people to embrace farming as a viable career path while simultaneously popularizing modern, productive, and sustainable agricultural techniques throughout the state.
Integrating Farmers with Government Schemes
Beyond the cash prize, the selected farmers will be integrated into various government welfare schemes and agricultural development programs. The state administration harbors an ambitious goal to expand this recognition framework to cover 10,000 farmers over the course of the next five years.
Boosting Research and Economic Independence
The overarching program seeks to upgrade traditional farming practices, foster agricultural research, and empower farmers to elevate their overall productivity levels while achieving greater economic self-sufficiency.
Creation of a Dedicated Youth Welfare Department
In addition to agricultural updates, Sarma revealed plans to establish a separate Youth Welfare Department designed to consolidate various youth-oriented programs and initiatives under a unified administrative umbrella.
Consolidating NCC, NSS, and Employment Exchanges
The proposed department will take over the administration of the National Cadet Corps, the National Service Scheme, employment exchanges, and other youth-centric programs that are currently handled under the education sector.
Targeting a September Launch
Authorities indicate that the new department is likely to be officially rolled out around September 17, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, ensuring better coordination and streamlined implementation of youth policies.
Financial Safeguards for Abandoned Wives
The chief minister also detailed a proposed financial assistance mechanism aimed at supporting women who have been abandoned by their husbands employed in government service without a legal divorce.
Mandatory Salary Deductions for Bigamy
Under this proposed system, if an employee enters into a second marriage without legally terminating the first and the abandoned first wife seeks government assistance, 20% of the employee’s salary will be deducted and directly credited to her bank account.
Strict Action for Service Rule Violations
Sarma emphasized that any government employee found guilty of violating official service rules pertaining to marriage and polygamy will face formal departmental proceedings and strict disciplinary action.
Precedent Set by Parental Support Rules
Drawing parallels, he recalled an earlier successful government policy where 10% of the salary of employees who neglected and abandoned their elderly parents was mandatorily transferred to the parents.
Launching Project Sadbhavana Phase Two
The Assam government is also gearing up to initiate the second phase of Project Sadbhavana, running from October 2 to January 31, aimed at identifying and clearing pending bureaucratic files.
Clearing a Massive Administrative Backlog
According to Sarma, more than 300,000 files currently remain pending across various government departments, directorates, and Deputy Commissioner offices. While some pertain to routine matters, the drive will systematically reduce this massive backlog.
Empowering Citizens via an Online Portal
A dedicated online portal will be introduced to allow citizens to report files that have stalled. These specific cases will subsequently be forwarded to the relevant district administration or directorate for immediate resolution.
Leveraging the E-File System for Transparency
Sarma noted that while a similar file-clearing exercise was executed manually in 2021, the current operational status of the e-file system will allow authorities to track pending matters and monitor disposal rates with far greater precision.
Accountability and Broader Political Context
Officials have been assigned clear responsibilities under the initiative, and performance will be reviewed after the conclusion of Project Sadbhavana 2. Meanwhile, political developments continue across the state, such as when Assam Congress to launch statewide movement against coal, stone, sand syndicates.
