In a major quest for a self-reliant Assam, youths and individuals ranging in the age group of 28 to 43 have applied in lakhs to become entrepreneurs and follow their instincts under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan. According to official statistics, just over 2.29 lakh individuals have applied on the portal dedicated to the scheme seeking loan ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh based on well defined criteria.
Lakhimpur and Kamrup are the two districts that have topped the charts in terms of applications filed, while Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong have shown the least enthusiasm going by the numbers and percentage of the total applications received from 34 districts across the State.
Of the total applicant, nearly 1.50 lakh are HS passed or graduate while 1591 are professionally qualified while over 5,700 are postgraduates.
The portal was launched by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma September 23, 2023 where senior ministers of his Cabinet, including Minister for Industries and Commerce Bimal Bora were present, besides Chief Secretary Paban Borthakur and top officials of the Industry and Commerce Department.
Of the type of trade preferred by the applicant, Service has topped the list with Manufacturing and Trading being the next preferred type. Over 70,000 applicants have applied for loan under poultry/goatery/dairy/piggery which amount to over 30% of the applications, while service and other sectors broadly categorised under services have been preferred by over 21% of the applicants. Fisheries occupy the third spot with over 12% of the total application received.
