Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged deputy commissioners of the 35 districts in Assam to focus on last mile delivery to achieve targets under various Central and State Government schemes to ensure the development and uplift of the people.
Addressing the third DC conference in Tezpur, Dr Sarma urged them to work towards effective implementation of flagship schemes of the State as well as the Central governments and issues related to them. He singled out Jal Jeevan Mission, Aadhaar Seeding of Ration Cards & PM Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries, Verification of Orunudoi households, PMAY(G), Atal Amrit Abhiyan, Paddy Procurement, among others, for special attention during his two-day interaction with these officials on June 12 and 13 wherein he also addressed issues flagged by the DCs.
He focused on periodic reviews of various schemes to improve the quality and credibility of delivery of services. He asked these administrators to tour extensively for a first-hand understanding of the ground realities. He impressed upon these administrators to constitute what he called “Team District”, consisting of the Deputy Commissioner, ADCs, SDOs and Assistant Commissioners and to ensure its stability for smooth execution of flagship schemes and institutional memory.
In view of the extensive damage because of unseasonal rain and flood, he ordered them to take immediate measures for restoration of flood damage infrastructure.
Dr Sarma directed DCs to speed up land acquisition for the Asom Mala projects and to create a district land bank under three heads: compensatory afforestation, industry and government projects. The Chief Minister appreciated the officials for the success of Mission Basundhara and asked them to review cases which were rejected under the Mission.
He exhorted them to open a minimum of five paddy procurement centres in their districts to expedite procurement and asked them to facilitate the procurement of 7 lakh metric tonnes of paddy by September 30 as targeted by the State. The Chief Minister told the DCs to explore export potential of organic produce from their respective districts and to encourage farmers to go for multiple cropping, especially of millet based on the United Nations declaring the year 2023 as the year of millets.
He urged the administrators to meet targets related to installation of functional household tap connections, while directing them to ensure quality inspection of health institutions, schools and anganwadi centres.
Specifying two areas where most district administrations were found wanting, Dr Sarma wanted them to focus on the functioning of the right to public services (RTPS) and the grievance redressal Kritagyata portal.
The Chief Minister sought an efficient and transparent digitization of delivery of services to make sure that the common man need not undertake any travel to the district headquarters to get her work done. He informed these officers that beginning October 2, the concept of physical files will cease to exist in the State and ordered them to implement the concept of E-office in their districts at the earliest. He directed them to ensure completion of Aadhar seeding to 12 lakh deserving farmers, individuals and facilitate mandatory e-KYC for optimum results under government schemes. “You are to ensure that e-POS seeding is completed in totality,” he said.
He exhorted them to keep a hawk eye on incidences of child marriage in the district which he said have wider health and societal ramifications like an increase in maternal mortality rate.
Laying down the agenda for the next conference in Tinsukia, the Chief Minister listed health, education and social welfare as priority areas.
TO DO LIST
Focus on last mile delivery
Concept of “Team District” mooted
Speed up land acquisition for Asom Mala projects
Implement E-office by Oct 2
