HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 1: Assam cabinet has given its nod for reservation of three seats in medical colleges of the state for Bhutanese, said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.
“Three additional MBBS seats to be reserved for the Royal Government of Bhutan. Out of three, two seats at Nalbari Medical College and one seat at FAAMC, Barpeta,” Sarma said while sharing key decisions of the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet also took decisions of deduction of forest royalty to be fixed at 0.6% of the total project cost when utilisingh minor minerals in a public water supply scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Besides this, Sarma also informed that boy students who secured 75% and above, and girl students who secured 60% and above in Class XII exam conducted by AHSEC to be provided scooters under Dr Banikanta Kakati Award scheme on November 30, 2023.
Earlier today, Royal Bhutan Ambassador H.E Major General Vetsop Namgyel called upon chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati.
The official handle of the chief minister posted on X, “The Royal Bhutan Ambassador H.E Major General Vetsop Namgyel called upon HCM Dr @himantabiswa today in Guwahati. HCM conveyed the excitement in Assam to welcome His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, along with Her Majesty the Queen.”
Meanwhile, a massive preparation and arrangements have been made in India to accord warm welcome and felicitation for the holistic visit of the King of Bhutan scheduled.
As per an official statement, the holistic visit by the King of Bhutan to Assam has been ushering of more strengthening bilateral ties between the India and Bhutan countries on many aspects.
Dawa Penjor, General Secretary of the Bhutan India Friendship Association (BIFA), Gelephu Chapter in a press statement on Wednesday, said that in the world where geography is a constant, it is often said that true friendship transcends boundaries.
Spanning over 265 kilometers of international border, the two neighbours have shared an unbreakable relationship and friendship for centuries, except for a brief period of unease between the 1990s and 2020.
After centuries of harmonious coexistence, the strong bond between Bhutan and Assam faced a challenging test from various insurgent groups along their shared border for nearly two decades. While these insurgencies posed serious security concerns for both countries, the leaders of these friendly neighbours consistently prioritised their relationship and adeptly resolved the issues amicably.
Furthermore, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the able stewardship of Assam chief minister and the chief executive member (CEM) of Bodoland Territorial Region, Promod Boro, the region experienced a renewed era of peace. These leaders deserve the highest accolades for their strategic efforts in bringing the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) into the mainstream, ushering in a lasting peace in the area.
It is worth mentioning that in the annals of Assam and Bhutan’s history, there has never been an official visit by the King of Bhutan to Guwahati. Official responsibilities and geographical realities had previously led to greater interaction with the central government in New Delhi. Against this backdrop, the King of Bhutan will make a historic state visit to Assam, extending the goodwill of the Bhutanese People, fortifying the friendship, and demonstrating solidarity with Assam and India for their crucial role in ensuring unprecedented peace in the region.
“This historic visit not only signifies the deep-rooted friendship between Bhutan and Assam but also strengthens the ties between these neigbhour’s, fostering a brighter and more harmonious future for the entire region”, the statement said.
