Himanta hands out CM-AAA 2.0 cheques to entrepreneurs

In a significant push towards fostering a culture of self-reliance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday distributed the first tranche of financial assistance under the Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan (CM-AAA) 2.0 to nearly 10,000 budding entrepreneurs. At a mega ceremony held at Nehrubali, a total of 9,964 youths from the districts of Nagaon, Morigaon, and Hojai received their initial installments.

Breaking down the figures, the Chief Minister noted that 4,196 beneficiaries hailed from Nagaon, 2,944 from Morigaon, and 2,824 from Hojai. With this phase, the Government has reached a milestone of 37,101 young entrepreneurs across 16 districts. Addressing the gathering, Sarma emphasised that while the State Government has provided 1.60 lakh official jobs over the last five years, Government service alone cannot solve the unemployment crisis.

“Assam now needs job creators,” he asserted, adding that the CM-AAA 2.0 is designed to transform the state’s youth into successful industrialists who can employ others. The Chief Minister highlighted that the performance of these entrepreneurs will be strictly monitored by ‘CM Fellows’ appointed in every legislative assembly constituency. “The new generation must resolve to script Assam’s glorious future.

We must never abandon the soil beneath our feet. Not through bandhs and slogans, but through hard work must we infuse new life into the Assamese nation,” he said. Beyond the financial aid, the chief minister’s visit focused on the cultural and urban transformation of Nagaon. He unveiled a life-size statue of the legendary cultural icon Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala at Rupkonwar Chowk.  Highlighting Agarwala’s multifaceted genius, Sarma said the statue would serve as a perennial source of inspiration for the youth.

Furthermore, he formally inaugurated the Shraddhanjali Udyan at Morikolong. Built at a cost of Rs 25.34 crore, the park is a testament to the town’s significant urban evolution over the past decade. Touching upon the migration of Assamese youth to other States, Sarma expressed optimism that upcoming projects, such as the semiconductor unit at Jagiroad and the thermal power project in Dhubri, would create tens of thousands of local jobs. He reiterated the Government’s ambitious goal to make 10 lakh youths self-reliant in the coming years.

The event was attended by several Cabinet colleagues, including Revenue Minister Keshab Mahanta and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, alongside various MLAs and local dignitaries. The unveiling of the statue of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by Ministers Keshab Mahant and Pijush Hazarika unveiling the statue of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala at Nagaon in Assam.