Himanta launches Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan 2.0

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 18, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) 2.0 initiative, aimed at further promoting entrepreneurship in the state. Building on the success of CMAAA 1.0, which saw the distribution of Rs 510 crore to 25,238 budding entrepreneurs, the second phase of the initiative is designed to support 75,000 new beneficiaries.

During the launch event at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Sarma emphasized the state government’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers youth to establish their own ventures. Under CMAAA 2.0, selected beneficiaries will receive financial assistance – Rs 5 lakh for those pursuing professional courses and Rs 2 lakh for non-professional categories, distributed in two instalments as entrepreneurship incentives.

This initiative is expected to further energize the spirit of self-reliance and entrepreneurship in Assam, enabling a new generation of youth to explore and launch successful business ventures, contributing to the state’s economic growth and development.

Applicants possessing four years degree in the field of engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary, and fishery will be treated as professional course category applicants. whereas, all other applicants (except professional category) will be treated as non-professional course category.

The Chief Minister also said that the interested and eligible applicants will have to register themselves in the CMAAA portal (http://cmaaa.assam.gov.in) and subsequently submit the detailed project report during the application phase. The portal will remain open till 18 November for registration.

Sarma however, said that in the five districts where bye-elections have been declared, applicants will get chance to register for CMAAA 2.0 once election model code of conduct comes to an end.

Sarma also said that taking experience from CMAAA 1.0, the eligibility age for the applicants has been raised to 45 years which was earlier 40 years. He also said that the applicants must have skill/experience and knowledge to perform income generating activity and they must have a scheduled commercial bank account opened before 1st April 2024.

The Chief Minister said that to be eligible for CMAAA 2.0, the applicants should not be a defaulter in loan repayment taken from any scheduled commercial bank and the applicants’ household member spouse or sibling must not be a beneficiary of CMAAA 1.0.

The Chief Minister further said that the spirit of Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan is to empower youth of the state and inculcate in them the entrepreneurial skills. He also said that through the abhijan efforts will be made to make the beneficiaries eligible and competent for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, a flagship scheme of the Central Government which facilitates micro credit/ loan up to Rs. 10 lakh to income generating micro enterprises.

Sarma further said that CMAAA has been envisaged to create an enabling environment for the entrepreneurs by providing financial support to the beneficiaries. He said that through CMAAA 2.0, government will try to unleash Assam’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive state’s growth.

The Chief Minister on the occasion also presented authority letters to CM Fellows, the 130 mentors who have been selected to mentor the beneficiaries of the CMAAA 1.0 and help them to become prospective entrepreneurs.

Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Bora also spoke on the occasion, which was attended among others by Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Environment and Forests Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta and a host of other dignitaries.