Beginning of new dawn of prosperity and growth: Assam CM

Prez lays base for projects of Central, Assam govts

HT Bureau

GUWAHATI, Oct 14: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday virtually laid the foundation stones for several projects of the Centre and the Assam government, including model Anganwadi facilities and schools in tea gardens of the state.

Murmu laid the foundation stones for 3,000 model Anganwadi centres with modern facilities and the Mission Saubhagya, a scheme to achieve universal electrification.

She inaugurated a rail-fed petroleum storage depot of Indian Oil Corporation at Moinarbond in Silchar.

On the last day of her two-day visit to Assam, she also laid the foundation stones for 100 model secondary schools in tea garden areas of the northeastern state.

Besides, two highway projects and a modern cargo-cum-coaching terminal at Agthori in Guwahati were also launched by her.

Addressing those present on the occasion, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed Friday’s ceremony a momentous occasion in Assam’s journey towards inclusive growth and development. Expressing gratitude towards the President for visiting the state despite an extremely busy official schedule, the chief minister termed her journey from a remote village in Odisha to the highest office in the country a source of inspiration and motivation for millions.

The chief minister added that President Murmu, representing the tribal society of India, symbolises selfless services towards the betterment of the society and the nation.

Speaking on the immense contribution of the members of the tea tribe communities towards the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the state, Sarma gave a brief outline on the history of British-era migration from regions such as present-day Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, etc.

The chief minister, terming the tea tribe communities an integral part of the state’s identity, lauded them for enriching the Assamese cultural enrichment through their assimilation into the fold of the greater Assamese society.

Stressing on the need for their socio-economic uplift, the chief minister spoke on the series of measures the state government has taken in this regard.

Friday’s foundation stone laying for 100 new model high schools in tea garden areas would contribute immensely towards starting an educational revolution among the tea tribe community children. This would check the high drop-out rates among the tea tribe community children, he added.

A total of 27 seats in the 9 medical colleges of the state have been reserved for candidates belonging to the tea tribe communities, the chief minister said, adding that there are plans in place for a high school for every four tea gardens and a graduation college for every 15 tea gardens.

The chief minister, speaking on the launch of the 3,000 new model anganwadi centres at a total cost of Rs 750 crore, stated that they would act as a catalyst in ensuring mental and physical growth and wellbeing of the state’s children.

In addition to the 1,000 such centres inaugurated and the 3,000 launched on Friday, the number of such model anganwadi centres now stands at 4,000 and in coming years, another 2,000 such centres would be dedicated at the service of the public. In total, the aim is to have 60,000 such model anganwadi centres, each built at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision of a transformed Northeast, Sarma exuded confidence the projects launched on Friday under various Central ministries would herald a new dawn of prosperity and growth in the region.

The inauguration of the 2-lane Silchar-Badarpur stretch on national highway-53 and the 4-lane Gohpur-Holongi stretch of National Highway-52A and the foundation stone laying Package -1 and Package -2 of Dibrugarh-Ledo stretch along National Highway – 37 by the President is a step in achieving the cherished dreams of the Prime Minister for the Northeast, he added. These and the Indian Oil’s Rail-Fed Petroleum Storage Depot at Moinar Bond, Silchar would prove decisive in the region’s overall growth.

The chief minister also touched upon subjects such as the Orunodoi scheme, the state’s fight against the drug menace and the government’s initiatives to ensure employment in the government sector to 1 lakh unemployed youths within the next 6 months.

The chief minister also extended a warm invitation to the President of India to visit the state once again for a first-hand experience of the majestic beauty of the Kaziranga National Park and the tea gardens.

As part of her maiden visit to Assam as President, Murmu arrived here on Thursday.