Dibrugarh, Feb 9: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal addressed the media in Dibrugarh on February 9, outlining key provisions of the Union Budget 2026 and their impact on the Northeast and Assam.
Sonowal expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a budget aimed at driving India towards a “Viksit Bharat,” focusing on stability, growth, and development across sectors including youth, farmers, women, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
The minister highlighted several major initiatives, including a ₹10,000 crore Growth Fund for MSMEs, the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, and a ₹40,000 crore boost for electronics manufacturing. On women’s empowerment, he noted the launch of community-owned SHE-Marts to support women entrepreneurs.
In the field of education, the government plans to provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for one girls’ hostel in every district, ensuring safety and better access to higher education for female students.
Focusing on the Northeast, Sonowal emphasized that the Budget strengthens the region’s role as a growth engine of India. The Ministry of DoNER has been allocated ₹6,812 crore, a threefold increase since 2014, while the Railway budget for the region has reached ₹11,486 crore, five times the allocation during the UPA era. A ₹2 lakh crore special assistance package for capital investment aims to accelerate infrastructure and logistics projects in Assam.
The Budget also includes a ₹500 crore package for the rehabilitation of former ULFA cadres, ₹5,000 crore for the development of Tier-II and Tier-III cities like Guwahati and Dibrugarh, and ₹49,725 crore in tax devolution to Assam. Other initiatives include upgrading the Mental Health Institute in Tezpur and developing new Buddhist and heritage circuits in the region.
Sonowal described the Union Budget 2026 as a decisive step towards making the Northeast a powerhouse in India’s development journey, reflecting the government’s commitment to the Act East Policy and regional aspirations.
