Ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, the State government on Wednesday announced a slew of welfare measures, including cash assistance for undergraduate and postgraduate students and a special Bohag Bihu grant for women, drawing sharp political attention. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the initiatives are aimed at easing financial pressure on households and supporting education and livelihoods. Under the proposed ‘Babu Asoni’ scheme, eligible undergraduate students will receive ₹1,000 per month, while postgraduate students will be given ₹2,000 per month, subject to an annual family income ceiling of ₹4 lakh. In addition, around 37 lakh women beneficiaries of the government’s flagship Orunodoi scheme will be provided a one-time payment of ₹8,000 on February 20 as an advance Bohag Bihu gift instead of monthly installments. The announcements also include continued subsidies on essential food items for ration card holders. While the government maintains the measures are part of its commitment to social welfare, opposition parties have termed them pre-poll inducements, intensifying the political debate in the run-up to the elections.
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