Assam CM launches new scheme with a rider: no benefits for those with over 3 kids

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a new entrepreneurship scheme for women with a few conditions. Women from the general category who wish to avail benefits cannot have more than three children, while women from the SC and ST categories cannot have more than four.

Announcing the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan on January 12, the CM said his government would gradually impose "population norms" on beneficiaries wishing to avail specific welfare schemes.

He said the aim is to control the state's population growth

"All our welfare schemes will be linked to population control measures for the benefit of our mothers and sisters", he said.

Speaking about the 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan' scheme, he said each eligible woman will be provided with Rs 35,000 over three years in their endeavour to become 'lakhpati baidos'.

The beneficiaries of the scheme will, however, have to fulfil certain socio-economic criteria, he said.

These criteria include that women belonging to the general and OBC categories should not have more than three children, while those in the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes should not have more than four children, Sarma said.

The SHG member, having a girl child or children, should enrol them in school, if they have attained the age and if they are younger, an undertaking must be given for the same, he said.

Another condition for eligibility to the scheme is that the trees planted under the Amrit Brikshya Andolan by beneficiaries must be surviving, he said.

The application forms will be available at the nearest panchayat office free of cost on a specified date for particular districts and no photostat will be accepted.

(With PTI inputs)