Guwahati, December 22: The Assam government on Tuesday said it will introduce a new law to accord Bodo the status of associate official language of the state. The decison was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

"The cabinet approved for introduction of Assam Official Language Amendment Bill (to replace ordinance) for Bodo Language in Devanagari script as Associate Official Language," a release from the Chief Minister's Office said. Learning Assamese Till Class 10 Must for Assam Government Jobs, Says Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In October, the state government had announced its decision to bring in an ordinance to accord Bodo the status of associate official language. The Cabinet also approved setting up of the Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council.

Aiming at addressing delays in different road projects, it cleared acquisition of land through direct purchase from owners through negotiated settlement, for improvement of state highways and major district roads under Asom Mala Programme and EAP.

The release said the Assam government has decided to bifurcate the Directorate of Social Welfare by creating two new ones -- Directorate of Women and Child Development and Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment.

In another major decision, the state cabinet increased the service age of all National Health Mission employees to 60 years and offered other benefits in line with the staff of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Besides, a proposal to amend three autonomous council laws related to Kamtapur, Motak and Moran communities was also approved.

The state government will take over Kokrajhar Music and Fine Arts College in Kokrajhar and Asom Sattriya Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Jorhat, the release said.

The cabinet also approved the Career Progression Scheme for doctors serving as faculty members of medical colleges in Assam, and decided to introduce a bill for provincialisation of posts of librarians in degree colleges. It also gave the go-ahead for a loan of Rs 91 crore from NABARD under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

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