Guwahati, Aug 21 (KNN) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that 68,000 MSMEs in the state will be benefited by the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 

Sonowal said this while reviewing the implementation status of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for MSMEs of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan at a meeting held at the Dibrugarh deputy commissioner’s office.

During the meeting the chief minister also held a discussion with the MSME owners of the two districts and urged them to take advantage of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

''Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with a financial outlay of Rs 20 lakh crore to revive and revitalise the country’s economy affected by COVID19 lockdown,'' he said.

Sonowal also stated that the state government had held a meeting with the banks within one week after the Prime Minister’s announcements to facilitate collateral free loans to 68,000 MSMEs in the state.

''A package of Rs.3 lakh crore was announced for helping the MSMEs under Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan by the central government,'' he added.

Sonowal also stressed on the need to become self-reliant in agriculture and allied sectors by increasing production and also highlighted the earning of more than Rs 11 crore by women self-help groups through production of face masks.

He also urged MSMEs to play their part in achieving economic progress of the state adding, ''same zeal which was showcased during lockdown period must be maintained to make Assam Atma Nirbhar in all sectors.''

He also said a package worth Rs 20 lakh crore was announced for the first time after Independence to revive the country’s economy and 2403 MSMEs of Dibrugarh district have been provided loans worth Rs 99 crore 98 thousand under this package.