Chief Minister Dr. Himanata Biswa Sarma has said that Assam of the present is a transformed State from the years gone by. Highlighting the financial stability of the State in his Republic Day speech, Dr. Sarma said that for the first time in 2022, the State Government was able to provide salaries to employees from its own revenue.
“Like the previous financial year, our total expenditure in the next financial year will also be over Rs one lakh crore,” said Dr. Sarma in his capacity as the chief guest in the 74th Republic Day celebrations of the country at the Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara in Guwahati.
The Chief Minister said that the State has made rapid strides on multiple fronts. Once considered a restive region, Assam today is often referred to as one of the most peaceful geographical and political entities.
Focussing on youth, he announced a sum of ₹ 3,000 crore in the next State budget for their self- employment while reiterating that it will fulfil its target of providing one lakh Government jobs to youths in the State. He added that henceforth, March 31 will be marked as ‘Students Day’ in Assam in memory of Upendranath Brahma, popularly called ‘Bodofa’.
“We will hold a sports festival
in 2023 covering every revenue
village. The sports festivals will
cover nearly 25,000 revenue
villages. This Krira Mahotsav will
culminate in the State’s capital.
This will be the biggest Sports
festival organised in the State”
Dr. Sarma informed the gathering of a State sports policy in this year’s Independence Day. “We will hold a sports festival in 2023 covering every revenue village. The sports festivals will cover nearly 25,000 revenue villages. This Krira Mahotsav will culminate in the State’s capital. This will be the biggest Sports festival organised in the State,” he said.
He urged the insurgent ULFA (I) to return to the mainstream which, he said, will facilitate transformation of Assam into an ‘island of peace’.
He also touched upon the success on the rhino poaching front and the crackdown on encroachers across the State, especially of the ‘Satras’ (Vaishnavite Monasteries centres of learning) and forest areas.
Dr. Sarma asserted that his Government has been making special efforts to place the State prominently on the global map by highlighting its rich culture and heritage. To present the State’s rich culture before the world, a massive event is being planned on April 14, marking the Assamese New Year. “Anywhere between 10,000-15,000 ‘dhulias’ (drum players) and ‘nachonis’ (dancers) will assemble for a Bihu performance, aiming to enter the Guinness Book of World Records,” he said adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event.
His speech also covered the recent nomination of Charaideo Moidams as a World Heritage Site and the rapid transformation of ‘Batadrava Than’ into a world-class religious-tourism site and redevelopment of areas around the historic Rang Ghar in Sivasagar. Dr Sarma announced an allocation of ₹ 300 crores for building a corridor at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on the lines of Kashi -Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi.
He spoke of the forthcoming “Health Services Utsav” aimed at taking healthcare delivery to the last mile. “In line with Gunotsav, Government officials will visit and evaluate qualitative parameters of government hospitals under the policy,” said Dr Sarma.
