<span style="color: #222222;">In Assam, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma unfurled the tri-colour at Khanapara in Guwahati. Addressing the gathering, he said India's sovereignty is non-negotiable. He appealed to banned militant group United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) to shun the path of violence and urged it to come to the discussion table for the development of the state. Mr. Sarma announced that another 43 revenue villages and 17 forest villages from the areas of Gohpur, Dhekiajuli, Sotea and Biswanath will be included in the Bodo Territorial Region.<br />''<br />''The Chief minister also said the State government has decided to include more categories of women to provide the benefits of Arunodi schemes to another eight lakh people in the state. The State Government has also decided to enhance the amount of the monthly existing Old Age Pension for widows from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,250 from 1st April this year apart from enhancement of the amount for Deendayal Dibgangajan beneficiaries from Rs.1000 to Rs. 1,250 per month. Mr. Sarma also announced that the State Government has decided to provide ration cards to another 40 lakh people in the state, and to provide benefits similar to the PM Ayushman Bharat, the State government has decided to introduce CM Ayushman Asom from the 1st of April.<br />''<br />''Mr. Sarma warned that in cases where men marry girls below 14 years, they will be booked under POCSO. Proceedings will be initiated under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, in cases where the girl is between 14 and 18. Sarma said this punitive drive is aimed at addressing the high maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in the state. Assam has the highest MMR in the country, with 195 deaths per 1 lakh live births recorded between 2018 and 2020, according to data released by the Registrar General of India in 2022. Assam's average of child marriage is 31.8 %.<br />''<br />''The Chief Minister informed that the Right To Public Services portal will be renamed as Seva Setu to provide seamless service of all government services virtually for the people of the State. Mr. Sarma also announced that the government would provide a grant of Rs. 2,000 crore for the infrastructure development of the 500 high schools in the State and informed that several new universities and colleges would be established in the state this year.<br />''<br />''The Chief Minister informed that 2,347 prisoners will be released today from various prisons in the State. Mr. Sarma appealed to the people to celebrate and cooperate to showcase the rich heritage and culture of Assam to the world in the five G20 meetings to be held in the State.</span><br />