Cash for UG, PG students, Bihu gift for women: Before Assam polls, it’s raining sops

Citing demand for a similar scheme for male students, during his annual New Year press interaction, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the rollout of a new ‘Babu Asoni (scheme)’ from February 1, under which the government will provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to eligible postgraduate students and Rs 1,000 to eligible undergraduate students. Sarma said this will come with a household income cap of Rs 4 lakh per year.

The schedule for the upcoming Assam legislative assembly election is expected to be announced at either the end of February or the beginning of March. Speaking on Thursday, Sarma said that during elections, the distribution of money under the Orunodoi scheme “becomes a matter of dispute, raised by Opposition parties”.

Orunodoi is a financial assistance scheme wherein monthly DBTs are made, primarily targeting women beneficiaries. Started in 2020, it currently has around 37 lakh beneficiaries who receive Rs 1,250 per month.

“We will not give the usual Orunodoi amount during the election period, starting from January. Instead, on February 20, every beneficiary will get Rs 8000 in one go as an advance Bohag Bihu gift. With this, they will be able to celebrate Bihu nicely,” he said.

Sarma also said that from this month onwards, each ration card holder in the state – over 2.44 crore beneficiaries – will be eligible to buy one kilogram each of masoor dal, sugar and salt at Rs 100. In November 2025, the government had launched subsidised rations of these three items at a combined cost of Rs 117 for beneficiaries.

These New Year announcements, just ahead of the upcoming elections, are the latest in a slew of beneficiary schemes and increases in entitlements announced by the Assam government in the last few years. Apart from these schemes, in the past year, the government has announced and launched the Mukhya Mantri Udyamita Abhiyaan to provide seed capital of up to Rs 85,000 over three years for entrepreneurship to women in self-help groups; Jibon Prerona scheme from October to provide Rs 2,500 per month for a year to fresh graduates graduating from government universities and colleges in Assam; a one-time research grant of Rs 25,000 to research scholars of state and central government universities; and a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to each of the 6.8 lakh existing casual and permanent tea garden workers in the state.

Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More

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