Assam govt to give bicycles to 3.78 lakh school students

Guwahati, July 6 The Assam government has decided to provide bicycles to 3.78 lakh students studying in Class 9 in government schools across the state.

State Tourism Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said:“The state cabinet in a meeting on Wednesday evening approved spending Rs 167 crore to provide bicycles to 3.78 lakh Class 9 students enrolled in government and provincialized schools.”

It was also decided to give scooties to girls who scored 60 per cent or higher in their class 12 exams and to boys who scored 75 per cent or higher.

However, from next year, Mallabaruah said that cut-off marks for both girls and boys will be 75 per cent and above to get a scooty.

The Minister said that the cabinet also decided to request the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for giving the state a chance to host the national games either in 2025 or 2027.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013, the council of ministers also approved the draft of the modified Assam Food Security Rules, 2022.

To increase the number of eligible households who can apply for new ration cards under the NFSA, the proposed amendment calls for raising the income threshold from the current Rs 2.5 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs.

The Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Facilitation of Establishment and Operation Rules, 2023, received approval from the cabinet and will exempt MSMEs for three years from certain approvals and inspections needed for establishment and operation in the state.

The cabinet also decided to expand the 'Orunodoi' scheme to include seven lakh more beneficiaries.

They will get Rs 1,250 per month from September onwards.

According to Mallabaruah, a proposal to increase the percentage of seats reserved for OBCs and MOBCs in professional programmes offered by the Assam Agricultural University from 15 per cent to 27 per cent received approval from the council of ministers.

Additionally, it was decided to reserve seats in training programmes at 24 government General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) institutes, 18 Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) schools, and three B.Sc. nursing schools for the Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch Rajbongshi, and Tea tribes, who make up 27 per cent of the OBC/MOBC reservation.