Guwahati, Dec 24: The Assam Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Assam International Skill Centre (AISC), aimed at creating global employment opportunities for the state’s skilled and semi-skilled workforce. The centre will operate under a ‘hub and spoke’ model, with its central hub located in Guwahati and additional centres to be set up across Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the AISC will align the state’s workforce with international labor market demands, offering pathways for overseas placements.

In a separate decision, the Cabinet approved departmental proceedings against 683 employees who were found to have unlawfully benefited from the Orunodoi scheme, a poverty alleviation initiative for low-income households. An internal review revealed that these employees had exploited the scheme for personal gain.

The Cabinet also declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reading,’ aiming to encourage book reading among the youth. The initiative will include book fairs across districts and the distribution of books as gifts.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to provide a monthly remuneration of Rs 9,000 to 278 village heads in forest villages and 668 village heads under the Forest Act, effective from January 1, 2025.