In Assam politics and welfare are often intertwined. With the elections taking place this month, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is undertaking its own number of financial support schemes to safeguard vulnerable sections of the population. Recently ₹5,000 each has been given to six lakh tea garden employees under the government auspices and it has announced that on 20th February 2026, ₹8,000 will be transferred into the bank accounts of 35 lakh women in the state straight from it to their accounts. These steps have underscored the government’s fixation with welfare politics and left the opposition Congress party a far more difficult struggle on the ballot.
The tea garden laborers constitute one of Assam’s highest-value and biggest communities. They are the backbone of the state’s tea industry, which is world‑renowned yet often characterized by low wages and harsh living conditions. To alleviate their misery, the Assam BJP government has given ₹5,000 to six lakh tea garden workers in recent months. This financial assistance was no mere token. For many families, ₹5,000 can address basic needs, such as food, medicine and education. Workers welcomed the scheme as recognition of their contribution to Assam’s economy. Providing them with money was directly transferable into their accounts at this point in time so we were able to ensure transparency and distance ourselves from third-party intermediaries, which is something quite widespread in welfare distribution.
Women were paid directly for their services, which was one of the measures taken by the government. The government has also unveiled another key initiative. In Assam alone, ₹8,000 will be shifted to the bank accounts of 35 lakh women on 20 February 2026. This initiative will have a massive impact as women tend to be the household primary caregiver. The cash could be invested in health, kids’ education or small business. Direct benefit transfers (DBT) is now an important mechanism for the BJP government of Assam. The direct transfer of revenue from the bank to beneficiaries cuts down on corruption and it guarantees that the affected groups actually get the help. And for women, as it provides financial aid, this is an acknowledgment of the place they hold in society.
The welfare benefits come at a crucial time. Elections in Assam are getting tougher for the Congress party, which has relied on tea garden workers and rural women as voters. It is also a way to reinforce the BJP’s relationship with these communities in direct contact through financial support. Such programmes are not just welfare and trust initiatives. Meeting the present, and its urgent needs, the government presents itself as responsive and caring. For Congress, this presents a real dilemma: It needs to figure out a new means of engaging voters and the alternative solutions to this.
Such schemes have received a mostly positive public reaction. Tea garden workers reported they were relieved to receive financial support, particularly at a time when inflation and healthcare costs are increasing. Women here nationwide have welcomed the transfer, which they view as a means to lighten household loads. There was an outpouring of praise to the government’s decision on social media and in local conversations. And also, it was claimed by some of the critics that these schemes were timed into elections. But even critics concede the direct benefit transfers have been “providing real assistance to families in need.
How welfare programmes can shape political landscapes. In the case of Assam, where the situation is one of considerable poverty, direct financial aid quickly changes popular opinion. It also underscores the necessity of focusing on targeted communities of tea workers and women that are of essential importance to society. For the BJP, these plans help reinforce its image as a government that delivers. The task for Congress is to react with policy measures that offer more than financial aid that will solve longer term problems, be it in health care, education or, indeed, employment.
Assam BJP government’s welfare measures, namely ₹5,000 for 6 lakh tea garden workers and ₹8,000 for 35 lakh women, have been more than just cash transfers. They signal a political strategy that is about compassion and electoral calculation. These initiatives are making matters rough for Congress and elections are coming closer as well. But really it is more than political, this story is also about people. These schemes give real relief and recognition to tea garden workers and women in Assam. Be they welfare, election technique or policy, they serve to remind us that governance is most effective when it touches people’s lives directly.
