Madrassa Reforms To Women Empowerment: Milestones Achieved By Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Government In Three Years

The Assam government led by Chief Minister Himanta has completed a term of three years in the state. The Assam CM reflected on the journey since assuming office on May 10, 2021. Expressing gratitude to the people of Assam for their unwavering support, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the state’s residents.

“On this day in 2021, I was blessed by the people of Assam to serve them in a different capacity and I committed to fulfil their aspirations. As my Govt completes 3 years today, I promise to keep working tirelessly to make Assam one of the Top 5 States of Bharat,” the Assam CM posted on X.

Here are some of the major developments led by the Assam government in the last three years.

War on Drugs

The strongest steps taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma have curved drug menace in the State to the maximum level. As a result, over 9,500 drug smugglers and peddlers have been put behind bars in the last two and a half years.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on stated that 2023 was the most successful year for the state in terms of anti-drugs operations.
The chief minister said drugs worth Rs 718 crore were seized over 4,700 arrests were made during the period.

Employment

Assam government has already provided jobs close to one lakh unemployed youths of the state. Besides the one lakh appointments, the Assam CM has also assured his government will provide 50,000 additional jobs. One of the biggest highlights of the government is the transparent and fair process through which thousands of youths have been awarded jobs.

Orunodoi: Women empowerment

Under ‘Orunodoi’, monetary benefits have been envisaged for more than 24 lac poor households in the state. The schematic benefit has been enhanced from 830/- to Rs. 1240/ Women. They will receive the amount on the first day of every month, starting from October 2020. Women being the primary caretakers of the family are kept as beneficiaries of the scheme. ‘Orunodoi’ scheme will provide Financial Assistance of Rs. 1000 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme to around 19.10 Lakh Families in the state.

Assamese Cultural Renaissance

The Assam Government has tried to tell the story of Assam predominately in three major aspects so far. The first story has been of Lachit Borphukon, the second story is of Charaideo Maidans and the third through Bihu.

The Assam Chief Minister gave a clarion call to the people to write on Lachit Borphukon on a dedicated website. The massive exercise led to the Guiness World Record for Largest Online Photo album of handwritten notes on Lachit Borphukon. At the initiative of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Centre sent a proposal to UNESCO to recognize Charaideo Maidam of the Ahom kingdom as a World Heritage Site. Further, Guinness World Records for the “largest Bihu dance in a single venue” with over 11,000 participants on April 14 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance has already made the folk dance even more popular worlwide.

Child Marriage and Polygamy

The Assam CM announced his intention to introduce strong legislation aimed at banning polygamy and implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Further, a rampant drive against Child Marriage was carried on in the state that led to a total of 3,907 people – 3,319 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act – were arrested when the drive against child marriage was launched in the first drive. Later, the Assam police arrested 1,039 people during the second drive against child marriage.

Madrassa Reforms

Assam government converted 1,281 government and provincialised Madrasas across 31 districts in his state into general schools under the state board. Sarma declared that his government had closed over 600 Madrasas and intends to close all Madrasas because he preferred educational institutions over Islamic institutions. Further, the curriculum of the privately run Madrassas was streamlined into a modern-day syllabus.

Peace Accords

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Assam government and the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) signed a memorandum of settlement. Home Minister Amit Shah said the “tripartite settlement is significant for Assam’s peace” and the government had achieved success in eliminating all the violent groups in the State.

Along with the ULFA, other groups have also been rehabilitated to the mainstream. Further, grants of Rs. 2 lakhs each to 181 ex-cadres of the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) were distributed on October 20, 2023, to enable them to reintegrate into society.

In 2023, there have been no civilians killed due to insurgency-related cases.

Relief to Microfinance Loanees

Govt of Assam had signed MoUs with 38 Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) and Banks to provide relief to microfinance loan borrowers as per the Assam Microfinance Incentive & Relief Scheme (AMIRS). All borrowers of loans amounting up to Rs 1.25 lakh are eligible for benefits and incentives. The State Government has approved Rs 2,000 crore for release in the first phase – an incentive of Rs 25,000 to be provided to each of around 11 lakh prompt-paying borrowers of microfinance loans.

Boundary disputes settlement

Based on the recommendations of the 12 Regional Committees between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, an MoU has been signed by the two Chief Ministers in New Delhi in the presence of the Union Home Minister on 20th of April 2023.

A path-breaking move was made between Meghalaya and Assam CM to resolve the contentious boundary issues by setting up 3 Regional Committees concerning the first 6 areas of difference out of the 12 areas of difference, headed by Ministers of both the States to engage with local people and community organization. Based on the recommendations of these 3 Regional Committees, an MoU has been signed by the two Chief Ministers in New Delhi in the presence of the Union Home Minister.