The Assam Government on Tuesday launched its biggest women entrepreneurship support scheme, offering `10,000 as seed capital to boost self-employment opportunities for women.

The scheme, called ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan,’ was launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Behali, Biswanath district, and will be rolled out across the state in phases.

“Assam’s biggest women entrepreneurship support scheme launched. 30 lakh women to benefit,” Sarma said in a post on X after formally handing over the first cheques under the scheme.

“With the blessings of our mothers and sisters, today we launched the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, providing `10,000 seed capital to women to boost self-employment opportunities,” he added. The CM said a multi-layered strategy is being adopted in the state to empower women, right from school to old age. “Free admissions, free schooling, livelihood support through Orunodoi, #MMMUA, old age pension and free food grains, in every step we are standing firm with our Nari Shakti,” he asserted.

Through the new scheme, the government will provide `10,000 as seed capital in the first year, `25,000 (`12,500 as loan and equal amount as government support) in the second year on productive usage of seed capital, and `50,000 in the third stage, Sarma said.

“Through this, we aim to catalyse micro-level entrepreneurship in Assam,” he added. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), in a post on social media, said Sarma is starting the ‘Lakhpati Baideo’ journey by distributing the first phase of cheques to 23,375 women entrepreneurs under ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhijan’ at Behali. A total of 27,04,161 self-help group members will benefit under it, the CMO added. Meanwhile  Chief Minister on Tuesday slashed power tariff by `1 per unit for all domestic consumers of the state. He added that further cuts in power rates will be announced later in the year.