The Assam government on August 12 announced the launch of its largest-ever Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme from October 2 next under which 17 lakh families of the state will receive fixed amount of Rs 830 per month, with only women members of a family eligible to register for the scheme.
State finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said as per announcement in the state budget, the state government will launch ‘Arunudoi’ scheme to provide financial succour to the poor sections of the state while also acting as a weapon of women empowerment.
“This will be the largest DBT scheme in the state. Under ‘Arunudoi’, each family will receive a fixed monthly monetary component and a variable component, which will be decided from time to time. The fixed component may increase with time, but it will not decrease. Till September 15, each week I shall be announcing implementation of schemes announced in the budget or new schemes for the welfare of the people,” Sarma said addressing a press conference in Guwahati on August 12.
Under the scheme, each family will receive Rs 830 in the bank account of one female member of the family each month towards monthly ration expenses, with a provision for the government to deposit additional amount depending on special circumstances, like admission period or festival season.
It will entail outflow of Rs 210 crore from the state exchequer per month and Rs 2,800 crore has been earmarked for the scheme in the budget.
Work on identifying beneficiaries will start from August 17 and the list will be constantly revised, with families with income less than Rs 2 lakh per annum eligible for it.
In legislative assembly constituencies with less than 2 lakh voters, the number of beneficiaries will be 15,000 families; and for LACs with over 2 lakh voters, the beneficiaries will be 17,000 families. It is targeted to cover 25 lakh families under the ‘Arunudoi’ scheme.
