The Assam Cabinet on Friday approved several major measures aimed at boosting regional development, strengthening local governance and providing financial relief to state employees and pensioners, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after the meeting in Guwahati. Key decisions include the creation of a State Capital Region (SCR) for Dibrugarh, an increase in the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) Fund and a rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR).
The MLALAD allocation, unchanged since 2016, will be raised to Rs 1.5 crore per MLA for the 2026-27 financial year and further increased to Rs 2 crore per MLA per year from April 1, 2027. Sarma said the boost will help legislators meet local development needs more effectively. Ten percent of the Rs 2 crore allocation will be reserved for immediate community requirements and welfare support, with the remaining Rs 1.8 crore earmarked for infrastructure projects.
The Cabinet approved the formation of the State Capital Region–Dibrugarh and the State Capital Region Development Authority–Dibrugarh to guide planned and sustainable growth. The proposed SCR will cover a 20-kilometre radius around the Dibrugarh Capital Complex. To support development, the government has set aside Rs 500 crore over five years in addition to existing projects. The MLA of Dibrugarh will serve as the ex-officio chairman of the authority and will hold Cabinet rank.
The Cabinet also sanctioned an increase in DA for serving government employees and DR for pensioners from 58% to 60%. The revised rates will be reflected with the salary and pension for June 2026 and will be payable in July, benefiting lakhs of current and retired state employees.
Amendments to the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialised Schools) Service Rules, 2026 were approved to allow promotions of Grade IV staff to Grade III posts in provincialised schools, addressing a long-standing gap that had blocked career progression for many employees.
Sarma announced that the Assam Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session will begin on July 6 and run for 21 days. He said the government is now operating under a vote-on-account and needs a full budget by the end of July so development schemes can resume normal functioning from August 1.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/featured/assam-enhances-mla-area-fund-earmarks-share-for-public-welfare-needs-1612418
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Publish Date: 2026-06-05 21:46:00
