Assam Cabinet approves Durga Puja bonuses and wetland project

The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has approved several welfare measures and infrastructure projects. As a festive gesture for Durga Puja, Orunodoi beneficiaries will receive a special payment of Rs 1,500 for October, increasing from the standard monthly grant of Rs 1,250.

Additionally, the cabinet approved a 20 per cent bonus for eligible workers and employees of the Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL). To accommodate the festivities, October 17, 2026, has been declared a state government holiday.

On the development front, the government approved the Assam Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project. Estimated at Rs 796.88 crore, the project will be funded by a Rs 637.504 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank and a Rs 159.376 crore contribution from the Government of Assam. The initiative aims to restore and rehabilitate at least 102 community beels.