“Minister Today, Gone Tomorrow” — Assam CM’s Remark Sparks Storm Over Inequity

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent remark — “A minister is here today, gone tomorrow. How will the family run?” — has triggered a wave of public backlash, especially among struggling contractual workers and aggrieved dairy farmers who feel abandoned by the state’s welfare machinery.

The comment, originally meant to justify the challenges faced by politicians, was made in response to media questions surrounding the alleged inclusion of cabinet minister Jayanta Malla Baruah’s wife and relatives of senior BJP leader Siddhartha Bhattacharya in a state-sponsored dairy development scheme.

However, the Chief Minister's words have struck a raw nerve with thousands of workers across Assam demanding the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). “If ministers worry about their families, what about us?” asked an agitated group of protesters. “We have a job today, but what if it’s gone tomorrow? How will our families survive?”

The voices of dissent come from a wide section of Assam’s workforce — including ASHA and Anganwadi workers, Gaonburhas, mid-day meal cooks, TET-qualified teachers, contractual computer instructors, Jal Mitras, and tutor teachers — many of whom live with daily uncertainty about their employment status.

Adding to the public discontent are serious allegations regarding the misuse of the dairy development scheme, which was designed to uplift small and marginal dairy farmers. In Bongaigaon, genuine dairy farmers have come forward claiming that they were sidelined despite applying years ago, while affluent individuals — including a wealthy businessman, relatives of ministers, and high-profile private dairy operators — were chosen as beneficiaries.

An official letter from the Directorate of Dairy Development, dated May 2025, lists 15 selected individuals for training and subsidies under the scheme. Among them are names like Dr. Sankar Kr. Das (a prominent businessman), Monalisa Bhattacharya (Narayan Dairy Farm), and Amit Verma (Umananda Dairy Pvt. Ltd.), whose inclusion has raised serious questions about the credibility and fairness of the beneficiary selection process.

“I applied five years ago and never heard back. But now I see names of businessmen and VIP relatives on the list. Is this scheme only for the rich and well-connected?” questioned a dairy farmer from Bongaigaon. Another added, “How can we trust the system when the powerful always walk away with the benefits?”

The incident highlights a deepening crisis in governance — one where policy intentions are increasingly disconnected from ground realities. While slogans like “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” echo from government platforms, Assam’s contractual workers and grassroots farmers continue to ask: Who is really being taken along?

As outrage grows, public trust in the fairness of welfare schemes and employment policies hangs in the balance — and the Chief Minister's words, intended as a defense, have only intensified calls for greater transparency and accountability.

Also Read: "Minister's Wife Or Dairy Farmers"? The Angst In Bongaigaon Over Govt Aid