CM Meets UPA Chairperson

Dispur, Oct. 22: UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi agreed upon the fact that exclusive welfare and development schemes should be taken up by the Central Government looking into the confluence of diversity and unique identity of North Eastern States. This was revealed by Mrs. Gandhi to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi when the latter called upon her at her official residence in New Delhi today.

            Apprising her about the present situation in Assam, Gogoi told her that backwardness and inaccessibility in some parts of tribal dominant areas of the State was a major cause of concern. In order to remove the economic backwardness and inaccessibility more emphasis on all round development in these areas should be given through implementation of a slew of welfare schemes and projects like road, drinking water, power, education etc., he said.

            Moreover the Chief Minister discussed the matter regarding increase in widow pension and more thrust on employment generation schemes.

            Chief Minister Gogoi also apprised Mrs. Gandhi about the present situation in North Cachar Hills district, insurgency problem and the proposed dam construction by the Chinese government in the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra. In this context, Gogoi told her that a high powered committee would be formed soon to investigate into the reported move by China to construct the dam.

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KB/ 22/10/09

Dispur, October 21: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met Union Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma in his office at New Delhi today. During discussion Chief Minister Gogoi apprised the Commerce Minister about the present economic condition of the tea industries in Assam. The Chief Minister requested the Commerce Minister to provide more funds for revival of the sick tea companies.

During the discussion the Chief Minister urged the Commerce Minister to make 100% exemption of excise duty for industries in North East. The Industry Minister agreed on the issue and assured the Chief Minister to exempt the excise duty for industries. It may be mentioned here that an Industrial Task Force was constituted by the Prime Minister under which there is a sub-committee on the North-East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy 2007 headed by the Secretary, Commerce & Industries, GOI.

The Chief Minister also took up the matter regarding setting up of proposed National Institute of Design (NID) at Jorhat. A team of official from Govt. of India had already visited the proposed site for setting up of NID. The Chief Minister requested the Commerce Minister for implementation of the said project and to sanction funds for setting up the said institute. The setting up of the proposed Bamboo Park at Jagiroad under the Industrial Infrastructure up gradation Scheme also figured in the meeting. The Chief Minister requested the Commerce Minister to approve the Bamboo Park at the earliest. Chief Minister Gogoi further discussed the matter relating to approval of Maniram Dewan Trade Centre under Phase II Scheme.

Earlier, Gogoi had discussion with Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal and requested him to sanction sufficient funds for Matmora and Rohmoria projects. The Chief Minister said that since erosion by the river Brahmaputra at Matmora & Rohmoria poses a grave threat to the people living on the banks, topmost priority should be given for protection of the affected areas. The Chief Minister suggested that the perennial problem could be solved by adopting protective measures undertaken in case of Mississippi and Mekong rivers.

KB/21-10-09

CM launches PM’s New 15-Point Program for Welfare of Minorities

Dispur, October 16: Assam Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi today launched the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme as Multi Sectoral Development Project for Welfare of Minorities by formally distributing cheques to beneficiaries of Kamrup district at a function at Amingaon Parade Ground on the outskirts of Guwahati.

Shri Gogoi said that his Government has all along been committed towards alleviating the socio-economic lot of the minorities, tea garden workers and tribes in order to bring them to the mainstream. “It is only by ameliorating the socio-economic condition of the people who are way behind that we can take the State along the path of progress and prosperity,” he said, adding that the Government has had initiated a slew of schemes towards that end in the past eight years.

He said the State Government wants to translate Gandhiji’s dream of wiping out tears from the eyes of the people into reality by removing poverty. “We want to bridge the gap between the have and have-nots and that is why we have channelized all our energies towards that end by taking up a host of schemes aimed at improving the condition of the backward segments of the society.”

Exhorting the beneficiaries for proper utilization of the money for construction of dwelling units under the scheme, Shri Gogoi asked them not to fall into the dragnet of the middlemen and to approach the deputy commissioners in the event of any difficulty. “Spot assessment will be made insofar as implementation of the scheme is concerned.”

The Chief Minister further said that solar energy would be provided to places which do not have access to electricity.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Minority Welfare Department, Dr. Nazrul Islam said that besides Kamrup (rural) district, the programme would be launched in 12 other districts of the State soon. “Our Government has received Rs. 703 crore for implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme in 13 districts of the State. In the first phase, besides Kamrup (rural), Barpeta and Darrang districts have been included.”

He said that the Government has given thrust on the backward areas, especially the char areas. “Our Government’s commitment towards the minorities has been best exemplified by the fact that it has formed a separate department for them.”

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the programme would go a long way in ameliorating the condition of the minorities. He asked the beneficiaries to spend every penny for what it was meant and to strictly adhere to the blueprint provided by the administration for construction of the dwelling units. “If you spent the money in a proper way then only you will be entitled to get the next instalment,” he said.

Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Rural), Shri R.C. Jain, while outlining the objectives of the function, said under the programme the Central Government has earmarked Rs.35.30 crore for Kamrup (Rural). He said each beneficiary would get Rs.38,500 for construction of a dwelling unit out of which Rs.17,000 each would be provided today as first instalment.

Shri Jain said that there was some delay in starting the programme as the administration screened the list once more and dropped about 400 applicants after they were found to be financially sound. “The 3,000 beneficiaries we have had finally selected are from poor families. Of them 40 are Christians and the rest Muslims,” he said.

Later, the Chief Minister distributed cheques amounting to Rs.17,000 each to some of the beneficiaries as first instalment under the programme. It may be mentioned here that Government of India has released funds to the tune of Rs.519.75 lakh for providing 3,000 dwelling houses to the minorities living below the poverty line. Of the Rs. 35.30 crore earmarked for Kamrup (Rural) under the programme, the administration has already submitted proposals for Rs.4117.79 lakh.

The function was attended, among others, by Parliamentary Secretary, Health, Smti. Uttara Kalita, Secretary, Minority Welfare Department, Shri A.B. Md. Eunus and Member Secretary, State Youth Welfare Board, Shri Rekibuddin Ahmed.

Chief Minister Sri Tarun Gogoi taking stock of health of the injured persons of Bhimajuli incident who undergoing treatment at GMCH, Guwahati on Oct 7,2009.

N C HILLS ENTERS A NEW ERA

RETURN OF DHD(J) MILITANTS TO THE MAINSTREAM

CM DECLARED 50 CRORE PACKAGE FOR N C HILLS 
 

Dispur, Oct. 2nd : With the return of DHD(J) militants to the mainstream on the auspicious occasion of the birthday of the father of the nation and apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi N C Hills enters a new era.  Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi ceremonially welcoming the commander in chief Niranjan Hojai and other cadres of the DHD (J) at Haflong today expressed his great satisfaction over the positive steps taken by the organization and said that the present Government in state as well as in centre are very much concerned about N C Hills and declared to take immediate measures for the rehabilitation of the surrendered cadres of DHD (J). Chief Minister also assured to take all necessary steps to solve out the longstanding problems of the district and declared to provide a package of Rs.50 crores from the state government side for N C Hills. Chief Minister expressed his hope that with the return of DHD (J) to the mainstream development works will get momentum in the district and the state government is also trying to find out a way for giving salary to the council staffs. 

Speaking on the surrender ceremony DHD(J) Commander-in-chief  Niranjan Hojai urged the Government to fulfill its demand within a certain timeframe and expressed their willingness to work for peace and development in the district actively. 

The surrender ceremony was conducted by the Additional Director General of Police (SB) Khagen Sharma. Among others the ceremony was attended by the MP Biren Singh Engti, HAD Minister Khor Singh Engti, Chief Secretary Prafulla Chandra Sharma, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs (GOI) Naveen Verma, GOC of 3 Corps, DGP Shankar Baruah, Home Commissioner Jishnu Baruah, Administrator of N C Hills Autonomous Council Md. Alauddin and several other senior civil, police and army officials.