Guwahati: 130 candidates from across Assam have been selected as mentors or CM fellows to train 25000 entrepreneurs in the state. The Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) is an initiative aimed at incubating entrepreneurship skills among the educated youth of Assam, helping unemployed youth become self-reliant by providing them with necessary resources, guidance, and support. The government of Assam, under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, has initiated a Fellowship Program specifically designed for self-driven, passionate, and meritorious students from professional courses like management and social science from prestigious institutions.
Selected candidates will undergo a one-month initial orientation and training program followed by exposure visit/on-the-job training in the field. They will work with multiple stakeholders such as technical resources, financial institutions, and other line departments.
The second phase of the CMAAA 2.0 was launched to empower 75,000 young entrepreneurs in the state. This initiative builds on the success of CMAAA 1.0, which distributed Rs. 510 crores to over 25,000 startups. The new phase will provide selected beneficiaries with Rs. 5 lakhs for professional categories and Rs. 2 lakhs for non-professional ones. Key eligibility criteria include possessing relevant degrees for professional categories and a registration deadline on the CMAAA portal by November 18.
The program is under the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam.
Business North East (BNE) conducted an exclusive interview with Secretary of Department of Industries and Commerce and Public Enterprises, Lakshmanan S.
Dr Lakshmanan S., Secretary, Department of Industries and
Commerce and Public Enterprises
Excerpts of the interview are as under :-
BNE: What are its primary objectives, and how does it differ from the previous version of CM AAA 1.0?
Lakshmanan: The Chief Minister’s Arohan Aarthik Abhiyan (CM AAA) is a unique initiative by the Government of Assam aimed at fostering enterprise development in the state. As promised in the state budget, the government intends to support 1 lakh new entrepreneurs, especially young and new owners, by providing financial assistance along with continuous handholding. This is to ensure they can successfully establish and sustain their enterprises.
CM AAA 1.0 was launched in September 2023. We adopted a transparent and systematic process, resulting in over 2.23 lakh registrations. From those, 1 lakh applications were processed, and after thorough verification—including project feasibility, performance, and credit scores—we approved over 25,000 candidates.
The first installment for the beneficiaries was disbursed, with amounts ranging from Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh for professional candidates. The ceremonial distribution was held in Khanapara, and now, projects are being implemented across all districts.
To monitor progress, we have appointed a group of young, educated professionals—many with MBAs or business development backgrounds—as CM Fellows. These Fellows are responsible for following up with the beneficiaries, helping them with training, additional financial support, and working with financial institutions for credit benefits.
As for CMAAA 2.0, we’ve launched the registration process on 18th October 2024. So far, nearly 94,000 registrations have been received, and we anticipate more applications soon.
BNE: What are the key differences between CM AAA One and CM AAA Two?
Lakshmanan: There are several key differences in CM AAA Two. First, the age eligibility criteria have been relaxed. In CMAAA One, the age range was 28-43 years, but in CM AAA Two, it’s been extended to 45 years for all categories. Previously, general category applicants had an age limit of 40, and those in the reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST) had an age limit of 43, but now all categories can apply until they are 45 years old.
Secondly, while there was no registration fee for CMAAA 1.0, in CM AAA 2.0, we’ve introduced a nominal fee. General category applicants now need to pay Rs. 200, while OBC, SC, and ST candidates will pay Rs.100. This fee is designed to ensure a level of seriousness among applicants.
Finally, based on the insights we gathered from the first phase, we are rationalizing the sectors to avoid market saturation in certain areas. For instance, we will encourage diversity in the types of projects and sectors people apply for, based on regional demand.
BNE: Can you explain what sectors are covered in CM AAA 2.0? Are there any plans to include science and technology or start up sectors?
Lakshmanan: The sectors we’ve identified for CM AAA 2.0 include agriculture, fisheries, veterinary, trading, manufacturing, plantation, garment production, and service industries. These sectors are not limited, however. There is always room for innovation and technology-based startups, especially in areas like agriculture or manufacturing. In fact, some applicants are already using advanced technologies for their projects.
For CM AAA, we focus on individual entrepreneurs, not companies or group projects. But for those interested in science or technology-based ventures, there are other schemes, such as the Startup Scheme by the Government of Assam, and funding options for MSMEs.
BNE: What amount of funding is allocated for CM AAA beneficiaries, and how is it disbursed?
Lakshmanan: The funding allocation depends on the type of applicant. For professional candidates, the government provides up to Rs.5 lakh, while for non-professional candidates, the limit is Rs. 2 lakh. In the first phase, we successfully distributed funds to 25,300 beneficiaries, and we plan to release additional funds based on their progress. In the second phase, we are aiming to support about 75,000 new beneficiaries, with similar funding amounts.
BNE: How are the CM Fellows selected, and what kind of training do they receive to ensure effective mentoring of beneficiaries?
Lakshmanan: The CM Fellows are selected based on their educational qualifications, including MBAs, and their potential for mentoring rural entrepreneurs. They undergo additional training in Rural Enterprise Development, offered by the University of Technology. They also receive exposure to various banking and financial institutions, which helps them guide entrepreneurs in obtaining financial support.
The Fellows play a crucial role, especially in rural areas. They help beneficiaries understand market dynamics, the rural economy, access to formal credit systems, and much more. Their insights help entrepreneurs optimize their projects and make informed decisions.
BNE: How do you see CM AAA impacting the Department of Industries and Commerce, and the state's economy in general?
Lakshmanan: This initiative is not just about the Department of Industries and Commerce; it’s about overall economic growth. By supporting these new entrepreneurs, we are infusing valuable goods and services into the economy, increasing consumption, and creating more job opportunities. This ripple effect leads to a boost in local economies, enhances product quality, and encourages gender diversity in entrepreneurship. Ultimately, CM AAA will contribute to making Assam a self-sufficient, vibrant economy.
BNE: Speaking of job creation, how do you see CM AAA impacting employment in the state?
Dr Lakshmanan: CM AAA has already started creating jobs. Many entrepreneurs are hiring additional workers for their businesses. For example, in garment manufacturing, entrepreneurs are hiring staff for sewing machines, while in the dairy and poultry sectors, workers are being employed to manage operations. Even though the funding is directed to individual entrepreneurs, the broader community often benefits as well, with family members and neighbors finding employment through these new enterprises.
BNE: Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of CM AAA in the next five years? How do you think it will impact society?
Dr Lakshmanan: In five years, we anticipate that CM AAA will have successfully empowered over a lakh of entrepreneurs across Assam. These beneficiaries will have created a network of small-scale industries and enterprises, contributing to a diversified economy. We expect more young people to take up entrepreneurship, seeing it as a viable alternative to waiting for government or private-sector jobs. This will lead to an overall improvement in economic activity, increased self-sufficiency, and a stronger rural economy. Ultimately, CM AAA aims to make Assam a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, benefiting all sectors—from agriculture to services.
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