Assam – In a significant relief measure for Assam’s government workforce, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that employees will now be able to draw their salaries in advance whenever required. The announcement was made during the launch of the upgraded Swagat Satirtha Portal 2.0 at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur.
Explaining the new arrangement, Sarma said the advance salary can be repaid either in a single installment or spread out over a year. Employees availing the facility will pay a nominal interest to the bank. He clarified that repayment immediately after the regular salary is credited would attract lower interest, while opting for monthly installments would involve a slightly higher rate. The initiative, he said, is designed to provide timely financial support during emergencies and reduce dependence on external borrowing.
The Chief Minister also reiterated his earlier commitment to open the Swagat Satirtha transfer portal twice in a financial year. He announced that another round of employee transfers would be completed before March 31. According to Sarma, around 9,000 employees who benefited from the portal in the previous cycle will not be eligible this time, while those who missed out earlier will have the chance to apply for transfers to preferred locations.
Providing a timeline, Sarma noted that the last edition of the portal was opened on January 1, 2025, and closed on June 7, 2025. This year, the government aims to finish the transfer process before March 7. He added that the Election Commission would be informed of the exercise, stressing that it was purely administrative and not political. Employees have been urged to submit applications within 15 days to ensure smooth implementation.
Sarma said both initiatives , the advance salary provision and the streamlined transfer process — reflect the government’s continued focus on employee welfare and administrative efficiency.
