Assam CM Himanta kicks off 10,000 disbursement for women entrepreneurs

In a significant push towards bolstering women’s financial independence and achieving State self-reliance, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday inaugurated the distribution of funds under the ambitious Mukhiya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) in the Chabua–Lahowal and Makum Assembly Constituencies of Upper Assam. The initiative saw the first instalment of 10,000 distributed to 21,198 women in Chabua–Lahowal and 22,069 women in Makum, providing crucial seed capital for their entrepreneurial ventures.

Addressing the thousands of beneficiaries, Chief Minister Sarma affirmed that the disbursement of the initial 10,000 cheque is merely the beginning of a sustained effort to ensure every deserving woman achieves the ‘Lakhpati’ status. He shared that under the MMUA, 15 lakh enterprising women across 55 Assembly constituencies have already received the first instalment, with plans in place to cover the remaining beneficiaries throughout the state shortly.

In Chabua–Lahowal, the beneficiaries include 20,575 women from rural areas and 623 from urban areas. Similarly, in Makum, 20,900 women from rural areas and 1,169 from urban areas received the funds. The Chief Minister urged all recipients to make “productive use” of the seed capital, expressing confidence that the women of both constituencies would utilise the funds judiciously to start or expand their businesses.

The meeting in Chabua–Lahowal was attended by Minister for Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture Jogend  Mohan, Minister for Power Prashanta Phukan, MP Rameswar Teli, MLAs Binod Hazarika and Ponakan Barua, Mission Director Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission Kuntal Moni Sarma Bordoloi, and a host of other dignitaries.

At the meeting held in Makum, Minister for Labour Welfare Rupesh Gowala, MP Rameswar Teli, MLAs Sanjay Kishan, Bolin Chetia, Suren Phukan and Bhaskar Sharma, Mission Director Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission Director Kuntal Moni Sarma Bordoloi, along with officials from the Panchayat and Rural Development and others.