Union budget 2026-27: Centre proposes ₹500 crore package for families of former ULFA members

Guwahati: The government has proposed a special package of ₹500 crore for the upliftment of families of former members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). This was a part of the announcements made by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Sunday. She also announced the launch of a scheme for the development of Buddhist circuits in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

The militant outfit ULFA disbanded on January 23, 2024, nearly 40 years after its formation, following a settlement with the central government.

The budget also proposes separate special packages of Rs 70 crore for the Adivasi groups in Assam, Rs 50 crore for the tribals in Tripura, and Rs 70 crore for the Dimasa people in Assam.


The funds will be used for infrastructure and development projects in the Northeast and for the upliftment of the marginalised communities.

The provision also includes additional new components--Adivasi groups in Assam, Dimasa people in Assam, ULFA groups in Assam and the tribals of Tripura.

“In the accord it was assured that Rs 3,000 crore will be provided by the Centre under the development scheme. This is a good beginning,” ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika told ET. “The state has assured to provide another Rs 2,000 crore under the same scheme. It is a good move."

The ULFA had split after several of its leaders decided to join peace talks with the government. Those opposed to the peace process, rechristened themselves as ULFA (independent). Now the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA faction is a banned organisation.

The finance minister said the budget’s third “kartavya” aligns with the vision of “sabka sath, sabka vikas” towards a “Viksit Bharat”. This requires targeted efforts for increasing farmer incomes, empowering Divyangjan, empowering the vulnerable to access mental health and trauma care, focus on the “Purvodaya” states and the north-east region to accelerate development and employment opportunities.

Sitharaman also announced the setting up of NIMHANS-2 in the northeastern region as part of efforts to improve infrastructure for mental health issues and trauma care.

She said the government will also upgrade the national mental health institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur as regional apex institutions.