Himanta Biswa Sarma pushes women-led growth in Demow, rolls out welfare boost and development projects

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, January 28 intensified Assam government’s push for women-led economic empowerment and grassroots development as he addressed a massive public gathering in Demow Assembly constituency of Sivasagar district, unveiling welfare benefits, announcing fresh schemes, and highlighting major infrastructure gains in the region.

The Chief Minister attended a public meeting at the Borbeel playground of Bakchu Kataki village under Khelua Gaon Panchayat, where he distributed Rs 10,000 cheques under the first phase of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Scheme—a flagship initiative aimed at promoting women entrepreneurship. The scheme is being implemented under the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).

During the event, Dr Sarma also laid the foundation stones of four development projects in Dimow through digital mode, underscoring the government’s focus on accelerating infrastructure and public service delivery.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Demow MLA Sushanta Borgohain, Sivasagar Guardian Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, former MP Tapan Gogoi, the Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner, and senior district-level officials.

In his address, CM Sarma interacted informally with women participants, enquiring about their arrival at the venue and joking about their sleep the previous night, drawing a warm response from the crowd.

He described the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Scheme as the only initiative in the country exclusively dedicated to empowering women through entrepreneurship, adding that outreach meetings under the scheme have already been completed in 95 of the state’s 126 Assembly constituencies.

Highlighting Dimow’s performance, the Chief Minister said self-help groups in the constituency are among the most active in the state, and women beneficiaries will collectively receive ₹31 crore in government assistance. “While women are often assured 30 or 33 per cent reservation, entrepreneurship ensures 100 per cent participation and leadership by women,” he said.

CM Sarma asserted that the government’s welfare initiatives are not election-driven, but expressed confidence that the people of Demow would once again repose faith in Sushanta Borgohain in the upcoming Assembly elections.

He claimed that the state has witnessed a decline in domestic violence, reduction in crimes against women, and a significant curbing of child marriage, adding that women are now standing shoulder to shoulder with men in driving Assam’s development.

Reiterating the government’s goal of creating “Lakhpati Baideu”, Dr Sarma said 6,048 women in Dimow have already achieved annual incomes of at least ₹1 lakh through entrepreneurship and self-help group activities.

He also offered three key suggestions to women on how to utilise the ₹10,000 seed assistance effectively for sustainable income generation.

In a fresh welfare announcement, the Chief Minister declared that 2,000 more beneficiaries in Dimow would be brought under the Arunodoi scheme.

Raising a rhetorical question on household needs beyond essential commodities, Dr Sarma announced that rice, pulses, sugar, salt, and cooking oil would be provided free of cost if the BJP returns to power.

Targeting the Congress, the Chief Minister dismissed its past welfare initiatives as limited to dhoti, lungi, blankets, and yarn, deriding them as “Panchamrit”. He claimed that under the present government, government jobs are being secured without bribes, while a medical college and a cancer hospital have been established in Dimow.

Without naming him directly, CM Sarma took a swipe at Akhil Gogoi, remarking that some leaders only raise slogans inside the Assembly, while others focus on delivering work on the ground.

Enumerating development milestones in Demow, the Chief Minister said flood mitigation measures have been strengthened, 11 bridges have been constructed, and a Rs 11-crore road project has been launched to improve connectivity to the medical college.

He concluded by urging voters to weigh what the BJP offers against what the Congress delivered, questioning whether such welfare schemes and infrastructure projects would have been possible under previous governments.