GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced that a Rs. 862 crore 'package' will be distributed to the flood-affected people before the state Assembly polls, slated to be held in 2016.
"We will give benefits to 76.41 lakh people across the state. The distribution will start from November this year before completion of our term," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told a press conference in Guwahati.
The people, whose houses have been damaged in recent floods will be offered cash, while most of the amount will be distributed in the form of in-kind such as - yarn for weavers, laptops to students, seeds to farmers, blankets to poor people and pensions to senior citizens, Mr Gogoi said.
The schemes will also provide "benefits" to widows, orphans, unemployed youths and women, he added.
When asked if the package was meant for political gains in the Assembly polls due early next year, Mr Gogoi said, "Who doesn't do politics? Has the Opposition not indulged in politics? If this helps me, why will I not do it?"
Asked about the "benefits" that the government is planing to dole out to common people, he said it will be in the form of "cash as well as kind".
The "benefits" will be under existing as well as new schemes, he said.
"About 25 total schemes will be rolled out for the purpose....The total expenditure for this exercise will be around Rs. 862 crore. This will be entirely funded by the state exchequer," Mr Gogoi said.
He said the Congress government in the state in its three terms have given employment to 4.46 lakh people.
"This figure is in addition to the people, for whom we have created livelihood opportunities. That will be in many lakhs," he added.
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