GUWAHATI, Sept 25 - The Assam Cabinet today decided to give a major boost to small tea growers and tea exporters. It has also approved the Bill for regulating the inland water vessels.
The State Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal this evening, approved amendment of the Assam Special Land Act to give relief to small tea growers.
Official sources said the small tea growers would now be exempted from levy of cess amounting to 10 paise per kilogram. To promote tea export, the exporters who export tea from the Amingaon centre would get an exemption of Rs 6 per kilogram, sources added.
The Cabinet approved the Inland Water Transport Authority Bill for regulating and inspecting all vessels for their safety measures. It also approved the Sports University Bill to set up a sports university at Chabua in the name of Aniruddha Dev.
The Cabinet further decided to launch an old age pension scheme to below poverty level (BPL) and above poverty level (APL) beneficiaries from October 2 this year. The scheme will be launched by the Chief Minister in a function to be held at Sarusajai stadium here.
Sources said that the Cabinet also gave its approval to the amendment in the Assam GST Act by which GST registration has been relaxed from Rs 10 lakh annual turnover to Rs 20 lakh annual turnover.
The Cabinet also congratulated filmmaker Rima Das and decided to give her Rs 50 lakh as reward for her movie Village Rockstars that has been selected as India�s official entry for the Academy Awards, 2019.
