GUWAHATI, Nov 17 – “Unemployment is one of the problems facing the State and to solve it, our Government has taken a slew of schemes and initiatives during the past nine years,” said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while giving away bank loan and assistance to Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) under Chief Minister’s Special Employment Programme 2010-11 and Chief Minister’s Jiban Jyoti Swaniojan Yojana at a function organized by State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) at Khanapara in the city today.
Inaugurating the Chief Minister’s Special Employment Programme, Gogoi said the government has accorded top priority to provide self-employment opportunities to weavers, farmers and unemployed youths through a host of schemes which have led to a rise in their income and living standard.
Gogoi said that the State Government is contemplating to provide more subsidy to the Self-Help Groups as they are able to usher in a silent revolution in the rural areas through their diversified economic activities. He announced the Government’s plans to distribute more power tillers and tractors to the farmers, specially small and marginal ones.
He said the Government would set up an ITI in every block for skill development of the huge workforce for engaging them in various apprentices. Earlier, the Chief Minister released a book titled ‘Assam – The Silent Revolution’ at the function.
Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, Chandan Brahma said the CM’s Special Employment Programme is a unique scheme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities in a big way. Brahma said that more than 25,000 unemployed youths have been self-employed under Chief Minister’s Jiban Jyoti Swaniojan Yojana. Principal Secretary, Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Arun Kumar also spoke on the occasion, stated an official release.
Altogether 93 JLGs have been disbursed loans under Chief Minister’s Special Employment Programme 2010-11 amounting to Rs 1.10 crore. Another 238 JLGs have been given loans and assistance covering 952 families under Chief Minister’s Jiban Jyoti Swaniojan Yojana at a cost of Rs 5.66 crore.
