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The Assam government's budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, totaling Rs 2.9 lakh crore, encompasses a range of women-centric initiatives aimed at empowerment and social inclusion.

Among the key provisions is the allocation for the education of 10 lakh girls up to the post-graduation level, intending to eradicate child marriage and encourage higher education among girls. This scheme includes financial incentives ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for girls pursuing higher studies in government institutes.

To address the issue of child marriage, the Assam Police will intensify efforts, with over 4,000 arrests made in more than 5,000 cases.

Additionally, the government plans to provide entrepreneurship funds to over 39 lakh members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas, facilitating access to capital and promoting women-led businesses.

The budget also expands the Orunodoi scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to women and waives microfinance loans for eligible women borrowers. Furthermore, the government aims to create job opportunities by recruiting one lakh youths over the next five years, with a focus on social equity in recruitment processes.

A notable proposal is the introduction of a 5% weightage in total marks for candidates from families without any government employees in recruitment for Grade-III and Grade-IV posts. This initiative aims to promote fairness and inclusivity in government job opportunities.

Other initiatives include the construction of 5,000 model Anganwadi centers, aimed at improving childcare facilities and fulfilling the commitment to build 10,000 such units in the state.

Overall, the budget reflects the government's commitment to women's empowerment, education, and employment generation, with a focus on fostering a more equitable and inclusive society in Assam. The estimated budget receipts for 2024-25 stand at Rs 2,90,155.65 crore, with the proposed expenditure of Rs 2,88,560.71 crore, resulting in an estimated surplus of Rs 1,594.94 crore.