The Assam government has increased the monthly financial assistance to the beneficiaries of its flagship Orunodoi scheme by Rs 18 as part of its efforts to turn the Centre’s Har Ghar Tiranga initiative into a “mass” movement.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement during the release of a video on the theme song of the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative at an official function here on Sunday to generate awareness about the campaign, the objective of which is to encourage the masses to hoist the national flag at their homes from August 13 to 15 to mark India’s 75th Independence Day.

The state government has made arrangements for 80 lakh national flags.

Sarma said the state government, which aims to turn the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign into a mass movement, will provide Rs 18 additionally to Orunodoi beneficiaries with the monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 during the month of August to enable them to purchase the Tricolour.

Under the Orunodoi scheme, financial assistance is made through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to the bank accounts of over 20 lakh women beneficiaries.

“Urged our SHGs to produce around 30 lakh #Tirangas and the flags will be available at Fair Price Shops at 18 only. For this, 18 will be additionally provided to #Orunodoi beneficiaries during this month to buy the Tricolour,” Sarma tweeted.

Urging the people to hoist the Tricolour at their homes, business establishments, government and private offices, religious places and all other public places from August 13 to 15, Sarma said self-help groups, on the request of the state government, has taken steps to produce around 30 lakh national flags while the state government will procure around 50 lakh flags from the Union textiles ministry.

He has urged owners of business establishments and economically well-off people to buy flags from the SHGs only and also appealed to the people to gift the Tricolour to others.

Appealing to the masses to upload photos of hoisting the Tricolour on the Har Ghar Tiranga website, he said a publicity campaign will be launched across Assam to make the initiative successful. The song has been aired on radio and TV since Monday.

It would be heard at all public announcement systems. There are around 78 lakh households in Assam.

“ As part of #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav & as proud Indians, it's our bounden duty to make #HarGharTiranga campaign a massive Jan Andolan by hoisting the Tricolour at our homes & offices. In a solemn function, launched campaign's theme song written & sung by Assam's leading artists,” he tweeted.