Guwahati, Aug 18: The Assam Cabinet, on Tuesday, approved a broad package of measures spanning child protection, labour, education, youth affairs and governance.
Key decisions included a comprehensive child protection framework, creation of a dedicated Youth Empowerment and Welfare Department, tighter regulation of private coaching institutes and labour reforms.
The Cabinet also approved renaming the Mini Secretariat in Silchar as the Assam Secretariat, Barak Valley, with 32 departments, alongside measures aimed at strengthening dairy cooperatives and improving governance across the state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the new Youth Empowerment and Welfare Department would bring several youth-oriented initiatives under a common administrative framework.
The department will bring together activities related to the Youth Commission, NCC, Scouts and Guides, Youth and Student Welfare, and employment exchanges, with a focus on employment facilitation, career guidance, entrepreneurship, leadership development and convergence of youth initiatives.
The department will begin functioning from September 17, with a secretariat and directorate, as well as zonal offices at the district level.
“I believe Assam would be the only state in the country to have a separate department for youth, as most other states have it combined with sports,” Sarma said.
He added that the focus on youth was not a new initiative but a continuous process undertaken by the government over the past decade.
The Cabinet approved the Assam State Child Protection Policy, 2026, aimed at strengthening safeguards for children and regulating childcare institutions.
“The policy is in line with the directions and observations of the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court on the need for a comprehensive child protection framework in Assam,” he said.
Under the new framework, childcare institutions will have to comply with requirements including the appointment of a child welfare officer, installation of CCTV cameras and adherence to a code of conduct, along with other prescribed safeguards.
The Cabinet also approved the draft Assam Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2026.
The rules are expected to facilitate implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the POCSO Rules, 2020.
“It will provide a framework for dealing with children in conflict with law and matters related to juvenile justice and will also provide mechanisms to address issues such as human trafficking,” he said.
The Cabinet approved notification of the Assam Industrial Relation Rules, 2026, and the Assam Social Security Rules, 2026.