The AADHAAR link must be a critical component of PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and the overall rural development process in Assam. Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh made this point while speaking to the media at the Panchayat & Rural Development (P&RD) Office in Panjabari on Friday. On the occasion, State P&RD Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass was present. Union Minister Singh also requested that the Assam government remove any bottlenecks in the Aadhaar-linking process.

He went on to say that steps have been taken to ensure that every household in Assam has access to piped drinking water, and that many schemes have been implemented to turn fallow agricultural land into assets for farmers.

A number of livelihood-support schemes to help women become self-sufficient will be implemented soon, according to Union Minister Singh. These programmes will be tailored specifically for women’s SHGs (Self Help Groups). The main feature of these schemes is that they aim to empower each SHG so that they can earn at least Rs 1 lakh per year.