DHEMAJI: CM hands over cheques to 36,886 beneficiaries under MMUA at Jonai

CM hands over cheques to 36,886 beneficiaries under MMUA at Jonai:
MMUA marks the beginning of a new journey toward women’s self-reliance: CM

DD TIMES Dispur, October 9: Carrying forward the tempo of women empowerment in Assam, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today handed over cheques of Rs. 10,000 each to 36,886 women beneficiaries from Jonai Legislative Assembly Constituency under Mukhya Matri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) at a function held at Jonai today.

At the same event, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma inaugurated a workshop and tech lab constructed at Dhemaji Polytechnic under the scheme to upgrade government polytechnic institutes and ITI centers into centers of excellence. He also laid the foundation stone for a 30-bed Community Health Centre (CHC) at Simen Chapori under the National Health Mission’s 15th Finance Commission Health Grant Scheme.

It may be noted that under MMUA, each eligible member of self-help groups, receives Rs. 10,000 as seed capital to promote rural enterprises. In the Jonai constituency alone, over 36.88 crore rupees have been earmarked as a part of the government initiative to infuse the spirit of capacity building in rural livelihoods by promoting women-led entrepreneurship in key sectors such as agriculture, animal husbandry, handloom, and handicrafts.

It is also worth mentioning that under the scheme, 14,085 women applied for pig farming, with a grant size of over Rs.14.08 crore. In goat farming, 8,345 women applied, receiving more than Rs.8.34 crore. For fish farming, 1,780 women applied and received Rs.1.78 crore. Meanwhile, 1,456 women engaged in poultry farming will be receiving over Rs. 1.45 crore. Similarly, 757 women associated with handloom sector received over Rs.75 lakh, 518 women engaged in pig farming received over Rs.51 lakh, 304 women in goat farming received over Rs.30 lakh, and 185 women in dairy farming received Rs. 18.5 lakh capital support.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma described the day as one of the special for him, as he fulfilled his promises made to the people of Jonai before the election. He remarked that elections come and go, but one should never make false promises to the people. He emphasized that his government continues to work hard to fulfill the political, economic, and social commitments it made to the people of Assam.

Dr. Sarma stated that he had promised to provide employment to one lakh youths before the election, a goal that has already been achieved. With more appointments to be made soon, the total number of new appointments will approach two lakh. He recalled that when the Orunodoi scheme was launched, the Congress party had claimed that it would end after the elections. Instead, the monthly assistance under the scheme has increased from Rs.850 to Rs.1,250.

Additionally, each beneficiary will now receive Rs. 250 per month to help purchase LPG cylinders. The Chief Minister further said that his government has kept its promises to provide free rice to the poor, free medical treatment to ration card holders, better road infrastructure, and a new medical college in Dhemaji.

He noted that no previous government had ever tried to fulfill 100 percent of its promises, but his government stands by every commitment made to the people.
Speaking about MMUA, Dr. Sarma said that providing Rs.10,000 as seed capital to each self-help group member, marks the beginning of their journey toward self-reliance.

The scheme’s broader goal is to transform self-help group members into ‘Lakhpati Baideus’, reflecting the government’s firm commitment to women’s economic empowerment. He highlighted the success stories of Mandira Devi Deuri from Luhijan Majgaon in Jonai Gaon Panchayat and the Jonbibi Self-Help Group of Simen Chapori, who have thrived under the scheme.

Dr. Sarma stated that Assam has four lakh self-help groups with 40 lakh women members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a national goal to make three crore women belonging to self-help groups ‘Lakhpati’.

Assam government aims for every one of the state’s forty lakh self-help groups to become ‘Lakhpati’, marking the beginning of a new economic revolution in the state, Dr. Sarma added.

He also said that women who had long remained confined within their homes have now stepped out to shape their own futures. Members of self-help groups are now able to assist their husbands in managing household affairs and contribute to their children’s education. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that women in Assam have unleashed a new economic revolution across the state.

The Chief Minister reiterated that just as financial aid under the Orunodoi scheme has increased, the assistance provided through MMUA will not remain limited to Rs.10,000. If used productively, women will gain greater benefits from the government in the future.

He moreover, said that the government will review the investments within four to five months. Members who use the initial fund wisely will receive Rs.25,000 next year, and those who use that amount well will receive Rs. 50,000 in the third year. Thus, each member can receive up to Rs. 85,000 to support her entrepreneurial activity. Dr. Sarma said that if all forty lakh women in the state benefit from this scheme, Assam’s rural economy will witness a major transformation.

Highlighting three more welfare measures, Dr. Sarma announced that from November 1, families with ration cards will receive pulses, salt, and sugar at subsidized rates along with rice. Families benefiting from the Orunodoi scheme will get an additional Rs. 250 per month for purchasing LPG cylinders, on top of the Rs. 1,250 already provided. Starting February, Orunodoi beneficiaries will receive another new benefit under the scheme. He said that the government continues to help households meet their basic needs and ease their financial hardships.

Dr. Sarma said that both in Jonai and across Assam, significant changes have taken place in land reforms, infrastructure, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and governance. Under Mission Basundhara 3.0, forty-five non-cadastral villages in Jonai have been declared cadastral. Work on the 81-kilometer four-lane highway is nearing completion.

The co-district civil hospital has been inaugurated in Jonai, and the Ekalavya Model Residential School has become functional to impart modern education among the children in the constituency.
Development work worth Rs.8 crore is underway to upgrade the infrastructure of Jonai Higher Secondary School, Frontier United High School, and Tribal Girls Higher Secondary School. Around 30,000 families in the Jonai constituency have been included in Orunodoi 3.0, while 46,500 families have secured food security through ration cards.

Additionally, 9,860 farmers in the constituency have received the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana. The Chief Minister also announced the construction of a football stadium at the Simen Chapori Sports Complex, and announced allocation of Rs.15 crore for the purpose.
Stating that the Assam government continues to work for the welfare of its people, Dr. Sarma said that through sustained government efforts, Dhemaji and Jonai have largely overcome the devastating effects of floods.

He added that steps have been taken to boost industrial investment and promote economic growth so that the state’s youth no longer need to migrate in search of employment.
Dr. Sarma further mentioned that under the Shraddhanjali scheme, the government will help bring home the mortal remains of students and other youth from poor families who die outside the state. He observed that Assam is no longer just the land where the sun rises for India’s East but has now become the starting point of the nation’s development journey. He said that schemes like Orunodoi and the MMUA are now being replicated by other states across India.

Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Power Minister and Guardian Minister of Dhemaji District, Prasanta Phukan, MP Pradan Baruah, local MLA Bhuban Pegu, Chief Executive Member of the Mising Autonomous Council, Paramananda Chayengia, CEM Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, Tonkeswar Sonowal, CEM Deori Autonomous Council, Bhairab Deori, and CEM Boro-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council, Mihineswar Basumatary, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.