Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that Assam has come of age and is now marching towards peace, self-reliance and development. He said that the State is now capable of tackling persistent issues such as flood with its own resources.
He said this in his speech after hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day of the country at the College of Veterinary Science playground at Khanapara in Guwahati.
The Chief Minister said that investment by the TATA Group for the assemble and testing of Semiconductor chips at Jagiroad in Morigaon district, the recognition of Charaideo Moidams by UNESCO as a World Heritage site (Cultural) and Centre’s sanction for ‘Guwahati Ring Road’ project are three big achievements of the State Government since January this year.
“Last three years were a golden period for Assam in terms of development. We are on the right track of development to scale new heights. The State’s economy has been improving every year since 2021. NITI Aayog, in its latest report, mentioned that Assam is one of the five fastest developing States in the country,” the Chief Minister said.
Dr Sarma said that Assam is now a front runner State in achieving its sustainable development goals in the entire country. “Over 80 lakh people have escaped poverty in the State during the last 10 years due to welfare initiatives of the Government and by 2047 Assam will be a fully developed State,” said Dr Sarma.
The Chief Minister announced that on October 2nd this year, the State government will officially launch the Right to Public Services (RTPS) Commission to improve the service delivery and the third phase of Mission Basundhara.
The Chief Minister said that cases of child marriage have fallen drastically due to efforts of the State Government and added that his Government is determined to eliminate the child marriage menace by 2026 from the State. The Chief Minister declared October 10 as the starting date for the Nijut Moina Scheme. It is likely to benefit 10 lakh female students.
“Nearly 12.6 lakh beneficiaries will be added under the Orunodoi scheme this year. For self-employment of our youths, we will provide ₹2 lakh each to one lakh youths. This exercise will begin from October this year. Over 20 lakh people in Assam will receive ration cards or family IDs from the State Government,” added the Chief Minister, in his 70-odd minute address.
The Chief Minister said that 74 new subdivisions will be created, and Chiknajhar in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) will become the 8th National Park in the State. The Chief Minister announced that 60 villages currently outside of Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) will be transferred to the autonomous council.
Dr Sarma disclosed plans for a State Domicile Policy that will give preference to native applicants for positions in the Government. He also spoke about introduction of laws to protect the indigenous communities in the State as well as places of cultural and religious significance.
He highlighted the changing demographic patterns in the State which he said will have detrimental effect on the indigenous populace of the State. “The State Government has been giving priority to maintaining the demographic balance in Assam and we are working towards safeguarding the rights of indigenous people,” he said.
Expressing serious concern over environmental degradation in State’s capital city of Guwahati, the Chief Minister pointed out the adverse impact of unplanned hill cutting in neighbouring Meghalaya.
He appealed to the people to make the Amrit Brikshya Andolan a success. “This year, we have planted over three crore saplings. Next year, we will plant 5 crore tree saplings under Amrit Brikshya Andolan,” said the Chief Minister.
