The Government of Assam has partnered with fintech firm BillMart to introduce Earned Salary Advance (ESA) and Salary-Linked Credit (SLC) services for nearly five lakh state- government employees. The initiative aims to improve access to formal credit and reduce reliance on high-interest informal borrowing.
Announced in Guwahati, the programme allows employees to access a portion of their earned salary before payday. This is expected to help them manage short-term financial needs without turning to costly personal loans. In addition, the Salary-Linked Credit facility offers simplified loan approvals with repayments aligned directly to payroll systems.
The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed on 15 March. The rollout is part of the state’s broader push to strengthen financial inclusion through digital platforms and modernise employee-welfare systems. The initiative is also aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to expand responsible and technology-driven financial access.
Early traction appears promising. Within hours of launch, over 100 employees had already used the facility, with significant credit disbursed through the platform. The services are being delivered via FinAssam, the state’s digital financial system, ensuring a paperless and transparent process.
The move marks a significant step in integrating fintech solutions into public-sector benefits. With a large eligible workforce, the initiative could emerge as one of the most extensive implementations of salary-based credit systems within India’s government sector.