Jorhat: Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, who is the guardian minister of Jorhat district, launched the Assam Micro Incentive and Relief Scheme (AM FIRS) in the district at a function held at the Jorhat Court Field on Monday.

Dr. Pegu distributed cheques worth Rs 25,000 each to 14 women who were regularly repaying loan installments to microfinance institutions.

Altogether, 5,000 women who had taken loans from 19 different banks and microfinance institutions were handed over the cheques under the scheme.

In the first phase, altogether 28,470 beneficiaries of the district have been selected under AMFIRS.

Dr. Pegu in his address said the government is trying to fulfill the pre-poll promise made to the women to provide financial relief to women borrowers of microfinance institutions who were facing hardship in repaying the loan installments.

He stated that the said scheme was taken up with an aim to empower needy women to repay and renew financial transactions to become self-reliant.

The minister pointed out that the government, a few months ago, had decided to procure homemade delicacies and handloom-woven gamosas for official government functions in order to promote women's entrepreneurs in the State.

MLAs of Dergaon, Mariani and Titabar-Bhabendra Nath Bharali, Rupjyoti Kur mi and Bhaskarjyoti Baruah respectively, and Jorhat DC Ashok Kumar Barman were also present on the occasion.