Special appointment for monitoring and better implementation of schemes in Assam
Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the Assam government will appoint an ‘Arunodoi Sarathi’ in every assembly constituency to ensure the effective implementation of its flagship welfare scheme and to assist beneficiaries at the grassroots level.
The announcement was made during a state-level function held at the Srimanta Damodardev International Auditorium in Panjabari, Guwahati, marking the first disbursement of financial assistance for the 2026-27 fiscal year under the ‘Arunodoi 3.0’ scheme.
Sarma stated that approximately 37 lakh women across the state would receive financial assistance under this scheme during the current fiscal year.
Elaborating on the role of the proposed ‘Arunodoi Sarathi’, the Chief Minister said there would be a dedicated representative in every assembly constituency to assist beneficiaries with enrollment, Aadhaar linking, grievance redressal, and other scheme-related matters, thereby facilitating easy access to welfare benefits at the grassroots level.
He also announced that all bank accounts of ‘Arunodoi’ beneficiaries have now been linked with Aadhaar to strengthen the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and ensure that financial assistance reaches the intended recipients without delay or error.
According to Sarma, fund transfers had previously been affected in several instances due to discrepancies between beneficiaries’ names and their bank account details. He stated that the Aadhaar-bank linking initiative was introduced to eliminate such issues and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out.
The Chief Minister further added that the government is developing a system that will allow beneficiaries to avail of advance payments under the ‘Arunodoi’ scheme during financial emergencies.
The objective of this proposed facility is to help women meet essential expenses without having to rely on moneylenders or high-interest loans. As part of another initiative to enhance financial inclusion, Sarma stated that the government is planning to enable beneficiaries to use their monthly ‘Orunodoi’ assistance funds to repay bank loan installments; this will help them build their creditworthiness and improve access to institutional finance.
Speaking at the event, Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah remarked that the ‘Orunodoi Scheme’ has emerged as one of the state’s most significant welfare initiatives, contributing to the empowerment of women and the strengthening of Assam’s grassroots economy. The event was attended by MLAs Bijoy Gupta, Diplo Ranjan Sarma, and Pradyut Bordoloi; Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania; Finance Department Commissioner and Secretary Jayant Narlikar; as well as other ministers, MLAs, and senior government officials.
Through coordinated arrangements made across the state, representatives from the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, panchayat bodies, and urban local bodies also participated in the event.
