Assam Government Lacks Vision, Reduces People to Mere Beneficiaries: Gaurav Gogoi

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the state government, alleging that it lacks a long-term vision and has reduced citizens, particularly women and the poor, to mere beneficiaries of welfare schemes instead of empowering them economically.
Addressing a press conference in Tinsukia, Gogoi said the ruling government’s focus on cash transfers and short-term welfare measures does not amount to genuine development. He argued that true progress lies in creating opportunities that make people financially self-reliant, rather than dependent on government assistance.
“The government is busy announcing one scheme after another, but these schemes only create beneficiaries, not empowered citizens,” Gogoi said. He added that many of the welfare initiatives being promoted are not innovative and are largely borrowed from models implemented in other states, without adapting them to Assam’s specific needs.
Citing the example of financial assistance provided to temple attendants, Gogoi said that while monthly payments may offer temporary relief, the government has failed to take steps to make sattras and other traditional institutions economically sustainable. He claimed that during previous Congress regimes, emphasis was placed on strengthening institutions so they could support themselves in the long run.
The APCC chief also alleged disparities in government spending, claiming that while welfare payouts for common people see only marginal increases, the cost of major projects rises sharply, benefitting a small group of contractors. “This is why a few people are becoming richer, while the poor remain trapped as beneficiaries,” he said.
Gogoi further accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises on key issues, including the granting of Scheduled Tribe status to six communities, which he said was used as an election promise but has seen little progress.
His remarks come amid intensifying political activity in the state ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Gogoi asserted that the Congress would focus on policies aimed at real empowerment, particularly for women and marginalised sections, if voted to power.
The state government has not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.