Assam CM Tarun Gogoi offers Rs 4,400 crore sops to woo tribals

GUWAHATI: With barely a couple of months left for polls, Assam CM Tarun Gogoi has announced Rs 4,400 crore sops to woo tribals, minority, tea tribe, below poverty line people and weavers in the interim budget. Gogoi, who holds the charge of finance department, presented an Rs 33,687.43 crore interim budget for the first six months of 2016-17 financial year.

Gogoi’s tribal package is seen as counter to NDA government’s proposed package to Sixth Scheduled area of Bodoland. BJP and Bodoland Peoples Front leaders are expecting that announcement for Bodoland package of Rs 1,000 crore will be made in the Union budget. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make any such announcement during his visit to Bodoland on January 19.

Gogoi said, “We propose to earmark a package of Rs 1,000 crore for the upliftment of tribal communities, people living in char and chaparis, tea tribe and other economically educationally and social backward communities.”

There will be Rs 1000 crore under Assam Vikash Yojana for economic empowerment of all BPL families with special focus on women and youth of the state by adopting highly focused target oriented approach .

“Assam silk outreach mission will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 2400 crore with a project of 10 years. The requisite resources will be pooled from different agencies including externally aided projects.”

The interim budget announced a woman development council for holistic development of women.