Guwahati: The Assam government’s flagship entrepreneurship scheme, the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA), has found that only around half of its first-phase beneficiaries are eligible for the next round of financial assistance following a performance review.
Speaking at a press conference at Janata Bhawan on Friday, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Borah said that out of 25,277 beneficiaries selected under CMAAA 1.0 in 2023, only 12,976 have met the required performance and eligibility criteria to receive the second instalment of assistance.
Borah said the evaluation was carried out to assess how effectively beneficiaries utilised the initial financial support and whether they fulfilled the conditions laid down under the scheme. Those who did not qualify will be reassessed before any decision is taken on extending further assistance.
The first phase of the programme included 221 beneficiaries under the professional category, comprising doctors, engineers, pharmacists, chartered accountants, MBA graduates and other qualified professionals, while the remaining beneficiaries were selected under the non-professional category.
Under the scheme, non-professional beneficiaries received Rs 1 lakh as the first instalment to start their enterprises, whereas professional beneficiaries were provided Rs 2.5 lakh.
Launched on September 23, 2023, the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan aims to promote entrepreneurship among the youth, encourage self-reliance and generate employment by supporting sustainable business ventures through financial assistance and institutional support.
Referring to the review findings, Borah said the scheme’s objectives can only be achieved if beneficiaries make productive use of the financial assistance and successfully establish their businesses. He urged recipients to utilise the funds responsibly and for the intended purpose.
The minister also warned against the misuse of government assistance, stating that beneficiaries who fail to properly utilise the funds could lose eligibility for future benefits. He added that banks would consider extending subsidies and additional financial support only after beneficiaries demonstrate satisfactory progress in their business ventures.