Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing the hard yards to ensure that the North East of India is connected to the whole of India. His singular push to bridge the hyphen between the Centre and the region and address its growth trajectory has resulted in nearly 33 union ministers visiting Assam
since the new government of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed office.
As if to cap off the year for the new government, the Prime Minister visited Assam in the last week of April to dedicate a number of cancer hospitals
to the people of Assam while reiterating the Centre’s support to the State at a rally in Diphu. With ministers and bureaucrats making a beeline, almost each week, to touch the tarmac of the various airports in this part of the world, the message is clear to everybody: Centre cares.
The implementation of Centre’s flagship schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Atal Amrit Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in Assam is being reflected in the nook and cranny of the State.
The result is that a region once ignored is buzzing today. These visits have resulted in reviews of centrally-sponsored schemes while providing officials a picture of the ground reality. “The Prime Minister terming the region as ‘Ashtalakshmi’ is rubbing off on the ministers and the government in the
states,” says a school teacher on condition of anonymity. “These aren’t mere words as the people have seen development firsthand. Assam got eight new
bridges over the Brahmaputra, including the much anticipated Bhupen Hazarika Setu (DholaSadiya Bridge) and Bogibeel Bridge,” he says.
As if to drive home the importance of Assam in the overall scheme of things, the Home Minister Amit Shah is touching base again on May 8 to be part of the State Government’s completion of its first year in office.
Ministers of Finance, Power, Textile, Petroleum, Jal Shakti, Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, Civil Aviation, Environment, Forest & Climate Change have also been taking keen interest to invest their time in the region.
