Guwahati, Feb 2: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 2 announced a significant welfare initiative for state government employees, allowing them to draw their salaries in advance on a need-based basis. The announcement was made at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur during the launch of the upgraded Swagat Satirtha Portal 2.0.
Under the new provision, government employees will be able to avail advance salary support to meet urgent financial requirements. The amount can be repaid either in a lump sum or through instalments spread over a period of up to one year. Employees opting for the facility will be required to pay a nominal rate of interest to the bank. Explaining the structure, the chief minister said that immediate repayment after the regular salary is credited would attract lower interest, while repayment through instalments would carry a slightly higher rate. The move is intended to provide timely financial relief during emergencies and reduce reliance on informal or high-interest borrowing.
Addressing the gathering, Sarma also reiterated his earlier commitment to open the Swagat Satirtha mutual transfer portal twice in a financial year. He said the government plans to complete another round of transfers for eligible employees before March 31. Clarifying eligibility, he noted that nearly 9,000 employees who had already benefited from the portal earlier would not be allowed to apply again, while those who missed the previous opportunity would be eligible to seek transfers to their preferred postings.
Providing details on the timeline, the chief minister said the earlier version of the portal had remained open from January 1 to June 7, 2025, but the current exercise is targeted for faster completion. The government aims to finalise the entire process by March 7, with employees required to submit their applications within 15 days. He added that the Election Commission would be duly informed, as the exercise is administrative and not political in nature.
Sarma said the introduction of the advance salary facility, along with a streamlined and transparent transfer mechanism, reflects the government’s continued emphasis on employee welfare, responsive governance and improved administrative efficiency.
