Assam: In a significant boost to women borrowers in Golaghat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that 5,119 women were relieved from their microfinance loans under the third phase of the Assam Microfinance Incentive and Relief Scheme.
The announcement was made on December 14 during a distribution event held as part of Assam’s ‘12 Days of Development’ programme.
During the event, the chief minister distributed ‘no due certificates’ to the beneficiaries of the loan waiver scheme and extended financial assistance to various groups.
This included Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to families affected by the 2024 floods and seed capital to self-help groups under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to aiding disaster-hit families, Sarma stated, “Financial assistance has been provided to 2,011 families in Golaghat, with Bokakhat being the worst-hit area where 1,970 families suffered significant losses due to floods.”
The distribution event aligns with the broader objectives of the ‘12 Days of Development’ initiative launched by the chief minister on December 13. This initiative aims to distribute grants, relief packages, and scholarships to nearly 12 lakh families across Assam.
Key components of the programme include:
• Microfinance Loan Waivers: A relief package worth Rs 223 crore to benefit over 78,000 borrowers.
• Disaster Relief: Rs 353.37 crore allocated to over 6.86 lakh disaster-affected families for reconstruction and livelihood support.
• Self-Help Group Support: Rs 21.9 crore for 6,490 self-help groups to enhance food processing units.
These initiatives reflect the Assam government’s focus on empowerment and recovery for vulnerable communities, aiming to bring about transformative socio-economic change in the state.