Four months to Assam assembly polls, Gogoi govt to give rice at Rs 2 a kg

The chief minister, who exuded confidence that the Congress would win fourth time in a row, also announced several other schemes with the election in mind. It included raising daily wage of Assam Tea Corporation’s plantation labourers to Rs 177, a new pension scheme for anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHA workers, Home Guard personnel and gaonburras, and old-age pension to all BPL citizens above 60 years of age.

“We will also provide free uniform to all students from BPL families up to Class X, set up coaching centres for competitive exams in all district headquarters and provide wifi connectivity in all colleges, and create 75,000 new posts in the new year,” Gogoi said.

He also announced setting up development councils for Brahmins and Kayasthas as also for a small Muslim community called Jolha in line with similar development councils already created for at least 23 different communities in the past few years. Also, autonomous councils for those Bodo tribals who are domiciled outside the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Council are on the anvil.