Industry bodies hail Assam budget for FY22

    Guwahati, Jul 17 (PTI) Industry bodies on Saturday
hailed the Assam budget for 2021-22 fiscal as "forward-
looking" and "people-centric" one with focus on agriculture,
rural economy and infrastructure development.
    They also praised the state government for not
imposing new tax amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The government on Friday presented the Rs 566 crore
deficit budget for 2021-22 in the state assembly, proposing
one lakh government jobs and no new taxes.
    The maiden budget of the Himanta Biswa Sarma
government was tabled by Ajanta Neog, the state's first-ever
woman finance minister.
    FICCI Northeast Advisory Council chairman Ranjit
Barthakur said the budget is "forward looking with no
additional tax burden at a very difficult time".
    He welcomed the state's focus on agriculture, rural
economy and infrastructure development under the Asom Mala
initiative.
    The industry veteran also praised the initiatives
taken for the tea workers like provision of piped drinking
water connections.
    FICCI Assam State Council chairman Dipankar Barua
said, "This is a very progressive and responsive budget.
Several recommendations made by the industry have received due
consideration."
    The government has decided to address the difficulties
faced by the unorganised sector, particularly small traders
and craftsmen by giving them a one-time grant.
    "The decision to provide social security to motor
transport workers and small tea garden labourers is also
welcome," he added.
    Barua lauded the plan to develop 100 industrial parks
and the decision to create Nano Incubation Centres for
industries at Silchar, Bongaigaon, Tezpur and Dibrugarh.
    ICC, in a separate press statement, said it is a
"people-centric budget" and hoped that actions would be taken
at the grassroots.
    "Allocation of Rs 40 crore as financial assistance to
families who have lost one or more members to COVID-19 truly
depicts the empathetic attitude of the current government
towards Assam's population," the industry body said.
    The tax waive on medicines and other equipment dealing
with COVID-19 were also welcomed by the industry association.
    It also lauded the endeavour to fill up one lakh
vacancies across 48 state government departments. PTI SSG
BDC BDC

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)