Nirmala Sitharaman to visit Assam on Feb 6; to distribute cash among 8 lakh labourers

GUWAHATI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Assam on February 6, a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhekiajuli.

Disclosing this, senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said Sitharaman will distribute Rs. 3000 each to 8 lakh labourers at an expense of Rs. 280 crore at an event at College of Veterinary Sciences ground here.

In her budget for the next fiscal, Sitharaman has proposed an outlay of Rs 34,000 crore for 1300 km of national highways in the state over the next three years. She has also announced Rs 1000 crore for the development of tea workers in Assam and West Bengal.

She was here in February last year to attend an outreach initiative.

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With assembly elections round the corner, Assam has witnessed frequent visits by BJP top brass, including Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Modi and Shah had toured the state on January 23 and 24 respectively.

The Election Commission of India is likely to notify the state polls by mid-February.