Assam Cabinet Announces Record Orunodoi DBT, Decentralisation Push

The Assam Cabinet on Thursday approved the state’s highest-ever single-day Direct Benefit Transfer under the Orunodoi scheme. On March 10, around 39.70 lakh beneficiaries will receive ₹9,000 each, totaling nearly ₹3,600 crore.

The Cabinet also decided to decentralise powers by allowing BTC, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao autonomous councils to handle preliminary tenders for projects below ₹10 crore, while final approval will remain with the state government.

Tea garden workers’ daily wages will rise by ₹30 from April 1, 2026, taking wages to ₹280 in the Brahmaputra Valley and ₹258 in the Barak Valley.

Key approvals also include incentives for a shipyard and container line in Guwahati, a five-star hotel in Silchar, a College of Agriculture in Patharkandi, land allotment under Mission Basundhara, a ₹519 crore NABARD loan, VAT reduction on ATF, scooties for over 33,000 ASHA workers, and release of the second MMUA instalment from March 11.