Assam's Minister of State for Health, Pijush Hazarika, called on young people to surpass illegal immigrants in the state's agro-economy.
Under the Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment Yojana (SVAYEM) scheme in North Lakhimpur on Friday, he made this appeal while distributing financial assistance to various self-help groups in the Lakhimpur district.
Pijush Hazarika said,' Bangladesh's illegal immigrants have already taken over the agricultural economy as a significant percentage of them are engaged in Barpeta and Dalgaon region for cultivation and fish farming.
'In an effort to become self-reliant, young people who have earned financial assistance under SVAYEM should participate in agriculture, animal husbandry, pig farming and fish farming,' Hazarika said.
The Minister also requested the recipients not to invest the balance of the scheme on the purchase of clothes, cell phones or two-wheelers.
Under the SAVAYEM scheme in the Lakhimpur district, more than seven hundred beneficiaries have been chosen so far.
Hazarika also highlighted other welfare projects carried out for the residents by the state government.
In 2017, the Assam government launched SVAYEM, which offers financial help to the state's young people to take up income-generating activities in the manufacturing, trade and service sectors.
Income-generating operations such as manufacturing, trading, processing, transport services such as auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws, the service industry, leisure, restaurants, repair centres, the craft and cottage industry can be taken up by the beneficiaries.
Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah, Bihpuria MLA Debananda Hazarika and social worker Manab Deka were present at the event.
