Guwahati/Kokrajhar, September 18: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday distributed financial assistance worth more than ₹278 crore to 82,219 young entrepreneurs under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) 1.0 and 2.0, marking a significant expansion of the state’s flagship entrepreneurship programme.
The event, held at Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati and live-streamed across multiple venues including five locations in Kokrajhar district, also signalled the launch of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, organised to mark 25 years of uninterrupted public service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to official figures, the Assam government has so far spent around ₹1,000 crore under CMAAA. CMAAA 1.0 covers 9,578 entrepreneurs (9,552 general category and 26 professional category), while CMAAA 2.0 covers 72,641 (72,447 general and 194 professional). General-category beneficiaries receive ₹2 lakh each (50% grant and 50% interest-free loan), while those in the professional category are eligible for ₹5 lakh under the same structure.
Addressing the gathering, Sarma urged the youth to utilise the funds productively and build sustainable businesses. “This year, we will add another 50,000 candidates. I believe the CMAAA family can eventually expand to five lakh beneficiaries. But this will be possible only when the candidates succeed,” he said. He emphasised that the scheme’s success depends on beneficiaries converting the assistance into viable livelihoods through hard work, creativity and technical skills.
The Chief Minister also formally announced the commencement of the newly constituted Youth Welfare and Empowerment Department, aimed at implementing youth-focused welfare schemes. Parallel distribution programmes were held in Kokrajhar (across five Legislative Assembly Constituencies), Sadiya, Boko-Chaygaon and other districts, ensuring wider outreach.
The CMAAA scheme forms a core pillar of the Assam government’s drive to create job creators rather than job seekers, aligning with the broader vision of an Atmanirbhar Assam.