In a bid to enhance the welfare of its employees and promote renewable energy adoption, the Assam government has announced significant measures. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma disclosed that a 4% dearness allowance (DA) hike for government employees would be implemented, alongside incentives to encourage residents to install solar panels in their homes.
The announcement, made in Guwahati, brings Assam government employees’ DA to 50% of their basic salary, effective from January 1 this year. The increased DA will be disbursed in three installments, starting from May and concluding in July, providing timely assistance for employees to celebrate the upcoming Bohag Bihu, the Assamese New Year.
In addition to the DA hike, the government introduced attractive incentives to promote solar power adoption. Apart from the subsidies offered under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar scheme by the central government, Assam will provide supplementary subsidies of ₹15,000 for 1 KW solar panels, ₹30,000 for 2 KW, and ₹45,000 for 3 KW installations. This move aims to significantly reduce the financial burden on residents, requiring them to pay only a nominal additional amount for solar panel setup.
Chief Minister Sarma highlighted that households generating surplus electricity through solar panels can sell it back to the government, fostering a culture of renewable energy production and consumption. Moreover, to facilitate access to financing, the government has pledged to cover 1% of the interest on loans taken by employees to install solar panels.
Furthermore, Sarma announced a significant policy shift regarding the recruitment of fourth-grade employees in government schools. Henceforth, these positions will be exclusively filled by residents from the same or nearby villages, based on merit and predefined criteria.
The Chief Minister also underscored the recent boost in investment in Assam, particularly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of a semiconductor plant by the Tata Group, valued at ₹27,000 crore. This development brings the total investment in the state for the current fiscal year to approximately ₹50,000 crore, signaling a promising trajectory for economic growth and development in Assam.
Sources By Agencies