Guwahati, 10 July (HS): Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah on Friday presented the state's full Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly, outlining a development-focused roadmap centred on infrastructure expansion, welfare initiatives, agriculture, education and job creation during the first year of the Himanta Biswa Sarma government's second term.
Describing it as a forward-looking budget for the next five years, Baruah proposed an allocation of ₹10,000 crore for infrastructure development, including ₹4,954 crore for the ambitious Guwahati Ring Road project.
The Budget earmarks ₹6,000 crore for welfare schemes, with the government aiming to benefit 35,000 women during the current financial year. Under the Divyang Vehicle Scheme, assistance will be extended to 3.75 lakh persons with disabilities.
Among the major announcements, pregnant women in tea garden areas will receive ₹15,000 in financial assistance, while 48,366 graduate students pursuing higher education will continue to receive a monthly stipend of ₹2,500.
The government has also proposed to continue the Chief Minister's Agricultural Equipment Scheme, providing ₹11,000 to small and marginal farmers. Farmers will receive an additional ₹200 per quintal above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy and wheat, while mustard growers will get an extra ₹300 per quintal.
From August 2026, 621 Udasin devotees will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹1,500. Applications for the Chief Minister's Nijut Moina Scheme will open in August, with benefits scheduled to begin from October. More than 5.3 lakh students are expected to benefit under the scheme this year.
Highlighting employment generation, Baruah said the government has set a target of creating over two lakh jobs in the next five years and has already constituted a dedicated task force to achieve the goal.
The Finance Minister also announced that any government employee found practising polygamy would face dismissal from service.
Pointing to Assam's improving economic indicators, Baruah said the state's per capita income has risen to ₹1,85,429, while the government aims to increase the share of its own revenue to 50%. He added that capital expenditure reached ₹26,531 crore in 2025-26, reflecting the state's sustained emphasis on long-term infrastructure-led growth.-----------
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
