Assam Cabinet approves Rs 9.75 crore VRS for tea corporation staff, new rules for homestay registration
Guwahati, June 23
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the state cabinet has approved Rs 9.75 crore for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme of Assam Tea Corporation Ltd executives. He said the cabinet also cleared rules for homestay registration through a portal with renewal every three years.
While addressing a press conference, Himanta said that the next cabinet meeting will be held on July 4. "Assam Tea Corporation Ltd executives wanted to take VRS, and the Assam cabinet has approved Rs 9.75 crore for it. The Assam cabinet has approved the rule for registration of home stays in the state. They can register in the portal, and every three years, they can do a renewal. The next cabinet meeting will be held on July 4," he said.
"The state cabinet has approved the release of funds of Rs 9.75 crore to Assam Tea Corporation Ltd (ATCL) to be used by ATCL for the proposed VRS of its executives," he said.
The Assam cabinet also approved the Assam Regulation of Re-classification and Re-classification cum Transfer of Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will be introduced in the forthcoming Assam Legislative Assembly Budget Session.
The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati under the Chairmanship of CM Himanta.
Announcing the cabinet decisions, the Assam Chief Minister said that the state cabinet has approved the bill for streamlining the regulatory environment and promoting industrial and commercial investment in Assam.
"The sectors to be allowed in the Bill are - MSME, Hydrocarbon, Solar, Agriculture to Non-agriculture," the Assam Chief Minister said.
The state cabinet has approved the extension of the validity period of licences of all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the State up to December 31, 2026, in place of the existing validity period up to June 30, 2026, to ensure uninterrupted functioning of Fair Price Shops and smooth distribution of foodgrains to NFSA beneficiaries across the state.
"The state cabinet has approved the Amendment of the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007. The Amendment aims at removing minimum land requirements for the establishment of private universities in rural areas from 60 bigha to 35 bighas and in urban areas from 30 bighas to 21 bighas," Himanta said.
The state cabinet has approved the proposal for the School Education Sector while ensuring the maintenance of prescribed academic and safety standards.
"Under the proposal, the minimum built-up area for LP to Secondary school required for urban areas is 1 bigha, and for rural areas 3 bigha. However, such schools are required to have mandatorily the facilities like sanitation, drinking water, boundary wall, toilets and compliance with disaster mitigation and divyang friendly etc. The state cabinet has approved the 'The Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development & Registration) Rules, 2026', for registration of Home Stays, etc. The rule provides a simple single window registration procedure with the introduction of an auto-renewal mechanism after every three years," the Assam Chief Minister said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The land reclassification bill is interesting – reducing minimum land for private universities from 60 to 35 bighas in rural areas could attract more educational institutions. But what about quality control? We don't want substandard colleges mushrooming everywhere. Also, the FPS license extension to Dec 2026 is practical – ensures food distribution to NFSA beneficiaries without disruption. Himanta ji is doing good work!
Mixed feelings about this. While the VRS for ATCL executives is welcome, I hope the money actually reaches the workers and not just the management. The homestay registration process sounds good for tourism, but make sure local Assamese families benefit, not just big players. The private university land relaxation raises concerns – 35 bighas in rural areas is still huge, and we need to ensure it doesn't lead to land grabbing. Progress is needed, but with accountability.
As someone who loves visiting Assam for its tea gardens and wildlife, this homestay registration rule is fantastic! Single window clearance and auto-renewal will make it easier for tourists to find authentic local stays. The VRS for tea corporation staff is overdue – the industry needs modernization. But I worry about the FPS license extension – hope it's not just a temporary fix for a deeper issue. The next cabinet meeting on July 4 should address more grassroots concerns. 🏡☕
The school education sector proposal requiring minimum built-up area of 1 bigha in urban and 3 bigha in rural areas is good – at least they're mandating sanitation, drinking water, boundary walls, and disaster compliance. But will the government provide funds for these upgrades? Most government schools in Assam are in a pathetic state. Also, the homestay rules should have a clause for preserving local culture – we don't want commercial homestays that look like concrete jungles. Overall, a balanced cabinet decision, but implementation is key. 🙂
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