Guwahati, May 10 — In a series of landmark decisions, the Assam Cabinet on Saturday approved the renaming of Dibrugarh Airport in honour of cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika, as part of his birth centenary celebrations this year.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the move at a press conference, stating that a special one-day session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will be convened to pass a resolution for the renaming and forward it to the central government for final approval.Welfare Boost for Tea Garden Workers
Commemorating 200 years of Assam’s tea industry, the Cabinet also gave a green signal to the Assam Tea Workers’ Financial Assistance Scheme, 2025. As per the scheme, nearly seven lakh tea garden workers will receive a one-time financial grant of ₹5,000, fulfilling a promise made in the state budget.Electronics Sector Incentivised
To stimulate manufacturing in the electronics sector, the government approved the Assam Electronics Components Manufacturing Top-Up Scheme, 2025, which will offer a 60% top-up incentive on benefits already sanctioned under the Central Government’s electronic manufacturing scheme.Support for Cooperative Societies
In a move to boost the cooperative movement, the Cabinet reduced registration fees for cooperative societies from 1% to 0.5% of their authorised share capital.Financial Aid for Graduates and Scholars
Launching a new welfare measure for the youth, the Cabinet cleared the Chief Minister’s 'Jibon Prerna Scheme', set to roll out in October 2025. Under this initiative:- Eligible graduates who are permanent residents of Assam will receive ₹2,500 per month for one year.
- Research scholars in public universities will get a one-time financial aid of ₹20,000, while specially-abled scholars will receive ₹40,000.
Housing and Vehicle Loan Schemes Expanded
The Cabinet approved the extension of ‘Apun Ghar’ and ‘Apun Vahan’ schemes to include contractual and regular employees of both state public sector undertakings and government departments, widening access to affordable housing and vehicle loans.Boost to Casual Workers and Power Policy
In a long-awaited relief, 13,822 muster roll, casual, and fixed pay workers will now receive 50% of the admissible House Rent Allowance.Additionally, the Assam Pumped Storage Power Generation Promotion Policy, 2025 was introduced to transform Assam into a pumped hydro storage power hub, aligning with sustainable energy goals.
These announcements underscore the Assam government’s multipronged strategy to honour cultural heritage, uplift workers, and advance industrial and educational development.
