Assam Cabinet approves ‘Assam State Data Policy 2022’

DISPUR, Assam: The state cabinet of Assam approved ‘Assam State Data Policy, 2022’ to improve access to data, efficient service delivery and ensure data-driven policy making and governance.

The move entails the collection, compilation, processing and storage of data in a readable format. Under the policy, the office of ‘Chief Data Officer’ will be established in the state and a Data Officer in each department to ensure compliance to Data Standards with the proposed centre for Data Management.

The policy was approved in the weekly state cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, led by Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Cabinet has also approved the ‘Vehicle Scrappage Policy of Assam, 2022, to ensure the timely scrapping and dismantling of old vehicles in the state. The policy aims to ensure effective implementation of the Registration & Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) to phase-out old and unfit vehicles.

The state government is also planning to launch a ‘One Time Settlement Scheme’ for a specified period, which would allow the owners to get a tax waiver of up to 75 per cent on a voluntary offer of their vehicles to RSVF.

Also, remunerations of the Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons and Elected Commissioners of the Municipal Boards will be increased by Rs 5000. Proposed remuneration for the post of Chairperson stands at Rs 15,000, for Vice-Chairperson and Elected Commissioners it is Rs 12,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

‘Assam Renewable Energy Policy, 2022’, was also approved for the growth of the renewable energy sector in the state. Under this policy, the state government aims to generate an additional 1,200 MW of renewable energy in the next five years. Grid Connected Solar Power will have a capacity of 620 MW. While Off Grid Solar Power Plants and Rooftop Solar Power Plant will have the target to increase their capacity by 80 MW and 300 MW respectively. Other sources of renewable energy will have to target 200 MW.

 ‘Mukhyamantri Souro Shakti Prokolpo’ will install 1000 MW on free government lands which was announced in the state budget of 2022-23.

The state cabinet also sanctioned the identification of 5 Assamese Muslim sub-groups as indigenous Assamese Muslim communities. These communities are Syeds, Deshis, Jolhas, Moriyas and Gorlas. For the development of health, education, culture, identity, financial inclusion, skill development and women empowerment in these communities.

The state government has decided to sanction the collaboration between Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) under the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the state government to provide additional guarantee coverage for loans provided by lending institutions to Micro and Small Enterprises in Assam. Also, a pool of a fund of Rs 100 crores will be created. In this, 80 per cent of the money will come from CGTMSE while the state government’s contribution will be 20 per cent.

Cabinet has authorised the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) Ltd to sign a MoU with SIDBI.

To reduce the losses of APDCL incurred in the financial year 2021-22 and 2022-23 the government has decided to give a waiver of nearly Rs 309.86 crores. The state government has asked APDCL to collect Aadhaar and EPIC data of all the new connections while updating the data of all the existing connections.

A venture capital fund of Rs 200 crores will be created with the MoU signed between SIDBI and AIDC Ltd.