Guwahati, May 26 (PTI): The Assam government on Wednesday created Welfare of Bodoland Department for speedy implementation of various schemes in an autonomous region comprising Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts of the state.
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Affairs of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) were under the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Department.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to set up Bodoland Administrative Staff College at Kokrajhar, the headquarters of BTR, Pijush Hazarika, the state government spokesperson, told reporters.
The council of ministers decided to start functioning of the college immediately from a rented building if no suitable government facility is available, he said.
It was also decided that there would be no need to send files to the Finance Department for its approval for releasing monthly stipends to beneficiaries of three schemes- Kushal Konwar Universal Old Age Pension, Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension and Deen Dayal Dibyang Yojana, he said. The senior-most secretary of the department concerned will be empowered to transfer cash to bank accounts of the beneficiaries within the 10th of every month, Hazarika said.
The cabinet also approved a guideline for the responsibilities of "guardian ministers" who will look after administrative affairs of districts.
