Assam Cabinet Approves Satra Preservation Bill, DA Hike, and Major Investments in Fertilizer Sector
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Assam Cabinet at Lok Sewa Bhawan, where several key decisions were taken to promote heritage preservation, employee welfare, women’s education, and industrial growth in the state.
In a landmark move, the Cabinet approved “The Assam Satra Preservation and Development Commission Bill, 2025” aimed at safeguarding the sacred Satra institutions, protecting their land from encroachment, and promoting Satriya culture and heritage-based tourism.
The proposed Commission will be chaired by a retired High Court Judge and include representatives from Satra institutions, the state’s land administration, and senior government officials. It will also develop a digital repository of Vaishnavite artefacts, manuscripts, and land records to ensure global accessibility and long-term preservation.
The Cabinet also approved a Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike for all serving government employees, pensioners, and family pensioners with effect from July 1, 2025, as per the Assam Services (ROP) Rules, 2017.
Continuing its focus on women’s empowerment, the Cabinet sanctioned ₹125.12 crore as admission incentives for girl students under the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina Aasoni scheme for the 2025–26 academic year. The scheme will benefit students enrolled in government and venture higher secondary institutions, as well as self-financed courses in government colleges.
In a major boost to industrial investment, the Cabinet approved an equity investment of ₹1,272.09 crore in the Assam Valley Fertilizer and Chemical Company Ltd, a joint venture between the Government of Assam, OIL, NFL, HURL, and BVFCL. The new Namrup IV Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex, with an estimated project cost of ₹10,601 crore, is expected to generate 460 permanent and 1,500 temporary jobs, significantly enhancing economic activity in the region.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also announced that the government has decided to develop a permanent samadhisthal in memory of legendary singer Zubeen Garg at the site where his last rites were performed. A committee comprising Garima Garg, Palmee Borthakur, Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Anuradha Sarma Pujari, Biren Singha, Pulak Banerjee, Tarali Sarma, Shyamantak Gautam, Pranjal Saikia, Dulal Manki, and Sudarshan Tahkur (as convenor) has been formed to oversee the project.
In addition, the state government will write to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court seeking the constitution of a fast-track court for the expeditious trial of Zubeen Garg’s death case, once the SIT completes its inquiry and files the charge sheet. A Special Public Prosecutor will be appointed to handle the case exclusively.
