GUWAHATI: Assam Council of Minister on Tuesday gave nod to the government’s decision to provide Rs 2000 each per month to folk artistes of the state during April-June, 2020 as they have been rendered idle because of the restrictions imposed during unrelenting lockdown induced by COVID-19 pandemic.
It was decided in a meeting of the state council of ministers chaired by the Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal today. The folk artistes include – members of dhulia naam, nagra naam, Ojha pali and band parties and other folk artistes as recorded with Assam Cultural Affairs Department.
These folk artistes perform in various religious congregations organised in private households as well as in community celebrations which have remained restricted because of the pandemic at present. The band parties which usually perform in marriage functions have been sitting idle as marriage celebrations has remained banned for the time being due to the pandemic.
The council of ministers further decided to impose strict enforcement of mandatory 14 days’ institutional quarantine from residents of the state who have arrived from outside because of spike in number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state.
The state cabinet has given nod for payment of Rs 2000 per head per month under ‘Assam Care’ scheme for April-June to 3.61 lakh state residents who have remained stranded outside the state because of the pandemic situation.
The state cabinet entrusted the ministers in-charge of war against COVID-19 in different districts to supervise and manage flood relief operations in respective districts too.
The deputy commissioners (DCs) have been directed to stock adequate quantity of flood relief materials to provide relief to the flood-hit as per the flood relief manual. The DCs have been asked to facilitate repair of river embankments in respective districts.
