Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has named the state budget 2021-22 as a welfare-oriented budget, which will benefit the middle class to a large extent. He praised finance minister Ajanta Neog for putting the Rs 1.07-lakh crore budget proposal without imposing any additional tax burden. This gives a clear presentation of his government’s promise to fulfil the promises made to the people.

Sarma stressed the budget proposals for waiving the loans of microfinance institutions (MFI) to eligible beneficiaries, jobs for unemployed youths, a rise in the number of beneficiaries, and monthly financial assistance under the Orunodoi scheme. “The budget gives a vision of the revolution 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 appearance in the budget to fulfil two major poll promises: to free 26 lakh women from microfinance loans and provide 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.