Ajanta Neog, Finance Minister of Assam informed the Assembly that narcotics worth over Rs 3,000 crore have been seized and more than 24,000 people arrested across the state in the last five years, highlighting the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign.

Tabling the interim Budget for 2026–27, Neog said that since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government came to power in 2021, authorities have also reclaimed nearly 1.45 lakh bighas (about 48,000 acres) of encroached government land.

Detailing the crackdown on narcotics, the minister said enforcement agencies have made over 24,000 arrests in drug-related cases since 2021 and seized contraband worth more than Rs 3,001 crore. She noted that the recovery figure is over seven times higher than the seizures recorded between 2011 and 2015.

On land encroachment, Neog said sustained and legally backed eviction drives have enabled the state to restore nearly 1.45 lakh bighas of public land, making it available for community use and development projects.

She also highlighted the government’s campaign against child marriage, describing it as a coordinated effort involving strict law enforcement, proactive policing, and community outreach, supported by welfare schemes such as the

Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina programme

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to women’s rights, Neog said the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Act, 2025, marked a significant reform aimed at protecting women’s dignity and ensuring justice within families.

Peace initiatives and development push

The minister said Assam has emerged as the top-performing state in implementing the new criminal laws, with an implementation score of around 78.13 per cent, compared to the national average of 53.69 per cent.

She added that ongoing peace initiatives since 2021 have led to the surrender of 9,022 former militants, who deposited 1,012 sophisticated firearms with authorities.

Referring to the peace accord signed with the United Liberation Front of Asom in 2023, Neog said the Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated Rs 500 crore as the first instalment of a Rs 5,000 crore special package for development and rehabilitation.

According to the minister, the funds will support sustainable livelihood initiatives, rehabilitation of former cadres, and efforts to consolidate long-term peace in the state. As part of the settlement, the state government has also committed Rs 3,000 crore from its own resources for infrastructure and development projects linked to the agreement.

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