Bell-metal entrepreneurs of Assam who had taken loans of Rs 5 crore do not have to pay it anymore.

This was announced by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma who on a day-long visit to Barpeta district took part in a number of events, including the inauguration ceremony of the newly-constructed Inspection Bungalow of the Public Works Roads Department at Kayakuchi.

He declared that loans and credits totalling ₹5 crore being availed by various bell-metal industry entrepreneurs will be treated as grants and neither the principal amount nor the interest will have to be returned. This would act as a huge boost to the bell-metal industry, Dr. Sarma added.

Sarthebari is home to the bell metal industry, the second largest handicraft of Assam. Bell metal is an alloy of copper and tin and utensils made from it are used for domestic and religious purposes.

About 40 percent of the people in the village are engaged in this cottage industry and the hammering of the metal at the furnace can be heard throughout the village.

The bell metal industry in the state has faced myriad problems. Scarcity of charcoal and broken bell metal products – much of it without the right copper-zinc proportion – is hitting the industry hard.

Increasing cost of raw materials have made lives difficult for the craftsmen.

The Chief Minister also declared a series of projects and schemes aimed towards overall development the bell-metal town and its residents.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma assured the residents of Sarthebari of immediate actions from the government in upgrading the current Sarthebari civil hospital into a state-of-the-art hospital equipped with the modern medical machineries and adequate healthcare staff. The ongoing works related to improving the condition of Dr. Jinaram Das Road connecting Sarthebari with Pathshala shall be completed soon, the Chief Minister stated.

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