To create smaller administrative units below the district level for timely access to essential Government services and streamlining citizen centric services by bringing governance to the grassroots, the State Government has rolled out 39 Co-Districts in an administrative rejig. With this initiative, Assam became the first State in the country to have co–districts.
On October 4 and 5 respectively, the Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma dedicated the offices of Co-Districts to the service of the people. “It is a major administrative overhaul and an important part of the State Government’s efforts to ensure ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Assam,” said Dr. Sarma.
The Chief Minister on October 5 formally inaugurated Jalukbari co-district and dedicated the Co-District Commissioner’s office to the service of the people.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that in the annals of administrative history of Assam, October 4 and 5, 2024 will be considered an important milestone as the inauguration of 39 Co-Districts will lead to bringing all major services at the doorsteps of the people.
The Chief Minister said, “During my tenure as MLA, I had noticed many residents travel long distances to have access to basic services at the district headquarters. It was really a challenge that the people encountered which fuelled the demand for new districts, often granted without necessary administrative infrastructure.”
Dr. Sarma said that with the launch of co-district headquarters, the State Government has taken important steps toward decentralisation of local governance. “I believe this initiative will eliminate the burden of distance, bringing essential services closer to the people.”
The Chief Minister said that taking forward Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of decentralising power and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of effective grassroots level governance, Assam has become the first state to launch and operationalize Co-Districts, which will be targeted administrative units of the district.
The Chief Minister added that after the delimitation exercise, the need was felt for creating an equal and enabling administrative infrastructure in all the 126 legislative Assembly constituencies in the State. “For works such as Next of Kin certificates, caste certificates, PRC, land matters, etc., going to the office of District Commissioners takes a toll on people’s financial and physical resources, and time. Moreover, District Commissioners also remain busy in such works, the time the DCs otherwise could have spent for development works of the district,” Dr. Sarma said, adding “With steps like creating Co-Districts based on Assembly constituency will lead to saving precious time of the people.”
The Chief Minister also said that though the people demanded sub-divisions, these administrative units did not have much power vested in them. “However, the Co-Districts have been endowed with more powers enabling them to become more empowered to fulfil the basic needs of the people. These 39 Co-Districts will streamline citizen centric services as their operations will be focussed over a defined geographic area,” he said.
Dr. Sarma expressed hope that the Co-Districts will cohesively work in targeted areas to improve the district’s overall growth prospects. He also said that the State Government, in its regular review meetings with the DCs, underlined the importance of a district-led development model in Assam’s growth and Co-Districts will become an important cog to achieve this vision.
The Co-Districts will have jurisdiction on the services like land revenue, administrative and magisterial powers, food and civil supplies, excise, disaster management, development and welfare work of the people. The Chief Minister said that this focussed approach will greatly ensure efficiency in service delivery leading to the convenience of the people and development of the State.
