Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Assam Announces Pre-Election Financial Sops for Students, Women
The Assam government has announced new financial help for students and women just before the elections.
They will give money every month to male students studying for their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate students will get Rs 1,000, and postgraduate students will get Rs 2,000.
The government will also give a special 'Bihu gift' of Rs 8,000 to women who are part of the Orunodoi scheme.
This is instead of their usual monthly money.
The government is doing this to help people celebrate the Bihu festival nicely.
They are also giving subsidized rations to everyone with a ration card.
Additionally, the government gave Samsung Galaxy F17 mobiles to registered journalists as a New Year gift, but at least two journalists returned the devices.
These announcements are part of many new schemes the government has started in the last few years to help different groups of people in Assam.
Assam government announced the 'Babu Asoni' scheme to provide monthly financial assistance to male undergraduate (Rs 1,000) and postgraduate (Rs 2,000) students with a household income cap of Rs 4 lakh per year.
The government will give a one-time 'Bihu gift' of Rs 8,000 to 37 lakh women beneficiaries of the Orunodoi scheme instead of their usual monthly amount during the election period.
Each ration card holder in Assam will be eligible to buy 1 kg each of masoor dal, sugar, and salt for Rs 100 starting this month.
The Assam government provided Samsung Galaxy F17 mobiles to over 2,200 registered journalists as a New Year gift, but at least two journalists returned the devices.
These announcements are part of several new beneficiary schemes launched by the Assam government in the past year, including financial assistance for entrepreneurs, fresh graduates, research scholars, and tea garden workers.
- Who
- Assam government, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, journalists Umanand Jiaswal and Bikash Singh
- What
- Announced new financial assistance schemes for students and women, provided mobiles to journalists, and some journalists returned the devices
- When
- New Year's Day 2024, with implementation from February 1, 2024; Magh Bihu on January 14, 2024
- Where
- Assam, India
- Why
- Ahead of the upcoming Assam legislative assembly elections, to provide financial support and combat child marriage, and to appreciate journalists' work
Government
Journalists
Gifts to Journalists
Government
The Assam government provided Samsung Galaxy F17 mobiles to registered journalists as a New Year gift, aiming to support and appreciate their work.
Journalists
At least two journalists, Umanand Jiaswal of The Telegraph and Bikash Singh of The Economic Times, returned the devices, possibly due to ethical concerns or perceptions of undue influence.
- Scheme Name
- Babu Asoni
- Monthly Assistance for PG Students
- Rs 2,000
- Monthly Assistance for UG Students
- Rs 1,000
- Income Cap for Students
- Rs 4 lakh per year
- Bihu Gift for Women
- Rs 8,000
- Orunodoi Beneficiaries
- 37 lakh
- Monthly Orunodoi Amount
- Rs 1,250
- Subsidized Ration Items
- 1 kg each of masoor dal, sugar, salt for Rs 100
- Mobile Gift to Journalists
- Samsung Galaxy F17
- Number of Journalist Beneficiaries
- 2,200
Sources
Cash for UG, PG students, Bihu gift for women: Before Assam polls, it’s raining sops
Assam CM’s new year present: Financial assistance scheme for male students, cash gift for women
Journalists return mobiles gifted by Assam government
620 Udashin Bhakats to get Rs 1,500 monthly aid from Assam govt
Assam govt launches scheme to provide financial aid to celibate monks of ‘satras’
Himanta Launches Financial Assistance Scheme For Udasin Bhakats
