Guwahati: The Assam government has decided that individuals involved in polygamy will be ineligible for state welfare schemes. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the measure after the 2026-27 state budget was presented in the assembly. He stated that anyone practicing polygamy would lose access to beneficiary programs, and government employees found guilty would face immediate dismissal. Persons with criminal records related to polygamy will also be excluded from benefits. The budget, presented on June 10 by Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, includes this provision. Sarma described the step as a landmark for women’s empowerment. Ineligible schemes include PMAY, Anna Yojana and PM Kisan. The budget reflects the BJP’s election commitments and targets creation of 200,000 new government jobs over five years. In the previous term, 164,000 positions were filled on merit without reported irregularities. It also focuses on industrial growth, ease of business reforms, 800 km of upgraded state highways at a cost of ₹10,000 crore, four new medical colleges, 33,000 health-sector posts and one university, medical college and engineering college per district. A satellite township near Guwahati is planned on 7,200 bighas of government land with ₹2,100 crore allocated initially. The state budget has tripled in a decade to ₹2,00,782 crore, with utilisation rising from 58% to 85%.
