Guwahati: Assam will restart key welfare schemes and subsidised essentials for National Food Security Act beneficiaries from Aug.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X: “Knock, knock… Some familiar names are back at your doorstep. Starting this Aug, Orunodoi, subsidised essentials and our student welfare schemes will once again reach the people of Assam.”Masoor dal and sugar at subsidised rates will again be provided to NFSA ration card holders from Aug 1. The Orunodoi scheme will restart on Aug 3, while Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni (MMNMA) and Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Asoni (MMNBA) will resume on Aug 6. Mukhya Mantrir Jibon Prerana (MMJP) will restart in Sept.The schemes were halted for four months due to the assembly elections.In his budget speech in the assembly on July 10, finance minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said Orunodoi expanded from providing monthly support to lakhs of women-led households to covering nearly 40 lakh families.“Our govt will continue to strengthen the scheme through a transparent and continuous process of including deserving beneficiaries and excluding ineligible beneficiaries, so that the benefits reach the families who need them the most,” he added in his speech.On subsidised masoor dal and sugar for NFSA cardholders, Mallabaruah said the subsidy would vary with market prices, given the rise in essential commodity prices due to the West Asia conflict. He said the govt would also examine the feasibility of adding mustard oil to the basket.The budget said Jibon Prerana, which provides Rs 2,500 per month to 48,366 graduates during their transition from education to employment, would resume in Sept.Financial assistance under MMNMA for 2026-27 will begin from Oct. “Students will be able to fill forms from Aug,” the minister said.The budget also announced MMNBA as a regular govt scheme. Since its inception, the govt has disbursed Rs 374 crore to more than 5.44 lakh students under MMNMA and MMNBA. Around 5.30 lakh students are expected to benefit in 2026-27.
