Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that public servants in the State were taking forward the good governance initiatives of the Government, driven by the philosophy and ideals of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi.
He said this while honouring public servants of Assam on the occasion of Lok Kalyan Divas to mark the 74th death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi.
The Chief Minister also presented Lok Sewa Award, 2024 to 47 government employees and Karmashree Award to six teams of bureaucrats in recognition of their excellence in public administration at a function held at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on August 5.
He said that the awards were a recognition of their service to the people of the State.
Dr. Sarma said that besides taking part in the country’s freedom struggle, Bordoloi played a crucial role in saving Assam from the ‘Grouping’ Plan. “Gopinath Bordoloi took an active role in safeguarding land rights of the indigenous people and created a tribal belt and block. It was a roadmap for building a modern Assam,” Dr. Sarma said in his speech.
Dr. Sarma said that the awards were introduced to acknowledge the immense role Government servants play from behind the curtain to bring positive changes in the lives of people.
Speaking specifically on Mission Basundhara, the Chief Minister said that since Independence no major steps were undertaken to bring about land reforms. “Problems of the non-cadastral villages were not resolved. No definite action was initiated to allot land pattas. With the help of Mission Basundhara 1.0 and 2.0, 30% land related problems in the State have been resolved. Moreover, with the help of Mission Basundhara 3.0 remaining land related issues will be solved.”
The Chief Minister also said that the State Government has been working hard to remove problems faced by Government employees. He hoped that the Apun Ghar Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar, reimbursement of medical bills, etc., will motivate them to work with a re-invented work culture and commitment. The Chief Minister said that except Home, Finance and CMO, Assam Secretariat will have no ACS officers up to the rank of deputy secretary which will offer opportunities for the promotion of Grade III employees in Secretariat Services.
