Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with finance minister Ajanta Neog in assembly on Friday
GUWAHATI: Assam’s first woman finance minister Ajanta Neog on Friday tabled a Rs 566.20-crore deficit budget in the assembly with a range of bold initiatives like financial help of Rs 1 lakh to each family that has lost their members to Covid-19 and smartphones to about eight lakh Class IX and X students of government schools to bridge the digital divide created by the pandemic.
“The financial assistance to Covid-hit families, which is the first-of-its-kind in the country, proves our firm resolve to be with our people during these difficult times. The scheme will immediately cost the exchequer around Rs 40 crore,” Neog said.