Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa formally launched the ‘Shraddhanjali scheme’ on Monday (October 6) in Guwahati.
The scheme has been launched to cover the transportation costs for bringing back the mortal remains of low-income residents who die outside the state.
The state cabinet approved the policy on June 22, 2025, with implementation effective from October 1, 2025.
The scheme is aimed at ensuring respectful and hassle-free transportation of the mortal remains from any state of the country back to Assam.
“Today, we launched the #Shraddhanjali scheme, under which, in the event of the unfortunate demise of any person from Assam outside the State, the State Govt, upon receiving a complaint in the mentioned helplines, will ensure a dignified return of the deceased back to Assam,” CM Sarma posted on X.
“Financially well-off families who can make their own arrangements are not eligible for the scheme. Individuals travelling outside Assam for medical treatment and who subsequently pass away are also not covered,” the chief minister said.
The Assam Police Special Branch, overseen by a DIG-level officer, will handle the coordination and execution of the scheme.
Families can initiate the repatriation process by calling the emergency helpline number ‘112’.
Upon receiving reports of deaths and after proper verification, the Assam government will ensure all logistical and other facilities to bring the deceased back to Assam for their final rites.
Additionally, the state government has also formally adopted the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) — a modified version of the National Pension System (NPS) recently introduced by the Central government.
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CM Sarma stated that UPS aims to strike a balance between the existing NPS and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), bringing substantial benefits to employees.
