Guwahati: The Assam government on Wednesday (April 19) announced that a monthly pension of Rs 15,000 will be given to loktantra senani, people who participated in the movement for restoration of Democracy during the Emergency period. As many as 301 people are identified by the state cabinet who were imprisoned during the emergency and will be provided with a monthly pension of Rs 15000 every month.
The decision was by the Assam cabinet during the meeting held on Wednesday in Janata Bhawan. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal said the state government considers the people jailed during the Emergency as 'Lok Tantra Senani'.
301 people to get Rs 15,000 per month
"To recognise their contribution towards democracy, the Assam Cabinet today approved giving a monthly pension to 301 people. They will receive Rs 15,000 per month. If the person is no more, his wife will get the amount, and if both of them have died, their unmarried daughter will get this sum," he said. Singhal claimed that many states in India are providing pension to jailed people of the Emergency period, but the amount given by Assam is the “highest”.
Notably, the Emergency was imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977.
Other cabinet decisions
Talking about other decisions of the cabinet, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday will sign an agreement in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to end their long-standing border disputes. "There were many joint regional committees and they were discussing the border disputes for many months. Two days ago, they submitted their suggestions and the Assam Cabinet approved those today," he said.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share 804.1-km border in Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Charaideo districts. There are 1,200 points of dispute along the interstate border. Baruah also said the cabinet approved investment proposals worth Rs 8,201.29 crore for eight mega projects. "These projects will result in direct employment of 6,100 youths, while the number of indirect jobs will be even higher," he added.
The Chief Minister also took to Twitter to share the several decisions taken by the state cabinet. “In today's #AssamCabinet meeting, we took several decisions pertaining to new City Gas Distribution project, 8 mega industrial projects, MoU for resolving border issues with Arunachal Pradesh, Govt appointment for sports achievers, pension for Loktantra Senanis, etc.” tweeted Sarma.
(With PTI inputs)
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