Guwahati, December 06, 2012:  Deputy Chief , BTC, Kampa Borgoiyari; Minister, Welfare of Plains Tribes & Other Backward Classes, Transport  and Tourism, Assam, Chandan Brahma and Principal Secretary BTAD, Mukesh Sahu met the Governor of Assam, Janaki Ballav Patnaik at Raj Bhavan, Guwahati, today. The discussions that followed after the Deputy Chief, BTC handed over a Memorandum to the Governor was highly fruitful as the BTAD representatives consented to comply with the suggestions made by the Governor.

Initiating the discussion, the Governor emphasized that rehabilitation of displaced people should be carried out within a definite time frame on the basis of the Voter’s List and not only on the basis of land ownership as landless people were there in every community of the state and the problem of the landless is not only limited to Bodoland alone. He suggested that agreement between Bodoland administration and the GOM was for a limited purpose and for a limited period and that is now long over. The Voters’ List should be taken as the basis because every voter is supposed to be a citizen of the country and in a democracy, the people’s representatives are elected by the registered voters of the country and Bodoland Council has also been a representative of the people of Bodoland on the basis of Voters’ Lists of respective periods of 2005 and 2010. Denying voters their citizenship would mean neglecting the process of elected democracy in our country.

He further added that he was endowed with special powers under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India for the governance of Sixth Schedule areas. He suggested that the BTC should apprise him of the development and other issues regularly from time to time.

The Governor further added that the accounts of the BTC should be properly maintained and got audited by the Accountant General of Assam and the reports placed before the Legislature                                                         
                                                             
He suggested immediate introduction of the Panchayati System in BTC areas which was an essential part of democratic reforms so that the fruits of development could be enjoyed by the people at the grassroots.    

On the matter of formation of peace committees, the Governor said that it depended on the cooperation of the BTC and added that there was a deep sense of mistrust among the people and in order to eliminate such mistrust, peace committees should be formed at village levels. Speaking about the dedicated services of the Gandhian workers, he added that they should be encouraged to continue their mission for restoring peace till it was achieved. Peace could not be restored by the Govt. alone, he remarked and urged that peace committees be formed at every level for restoring peace and said that restoration of peace by setting up peace committees was his deep concern and for this he urged the BTC to extend its support and cooperation.
 
The BTC representatives agreed to all the suggestions. The Governor then discussed the BTC’s other problems as contained in their memorandum and assured them his support wherever and whenever possible.

Governor propels the progress and prosperity of
the Bell-Metal Industry of Sarthebari

Guwahati, December 04, 2012: The Governor of Assam, Janaki Ballav Patnaik held a high level meeting at the Raj Bhavan Conference Hall to discuss and eke out a solution to the perennial problems plaguing the Bell- Metal Industry of Assam, principally based at Sarthebari, Barpeta district of Assam. The meeting was attended by 22 senior officials of the state govt., the central govt. and delegates of Assam Cooperative Bell-Metal Utensils Manufacturing Society of Sarthebari.

It may be mentioned that some members and office bearers of the Assam Cooperative Bell-Metal Utensils Manufacturing Society of Sarthebari had met the Governor in the previous month to apprise him of the various problems faced by them in sustaining their industry which manufactures the world famous glorious traditional Assamese utensils and items of bell-metal which find a place of honour and pride in every Assamese heart. The Governor’s desire for upholding and furthering the sustenance of Assamese tradition and culture and in making them attain their rightful place in the map of the world urged him to convene a meeting to take up the matter in right earnest.

When asked by the Governor to outline their problems, the members of the society narrated the history behind the setting up of their society and how they were keeping alive their traditional profession despite the burning financial, procurement (raw materials) and machinery problems.

DC, Barpeta, Siddharth Singh then elucidated the problems in detail stating that the raw material problem was perennial. The meeting observed that the industry needed to be strengthened so as to eliminate exploitation, nurtured and made more professional.

Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Assam, V. K. Pipersenia stated that his department would undertake the responsibility of nurturing the industry and would work with the society to ensure their progress adding that he was keen to develop it in the concept of Amul. Principal Secretary, Finance, Assam, Himangshu Shekhar Das dwelt on the need to improve the condition of the industry and assured the meeting of his department’s support in every respect. All the officials of both the central and state agencies took part in the deliberations.

The Governor remarked that he appealed to all on the part of the society to not only save this precious industry of Assam but also ensure its progress and prosperity and said “They have to be supported; otherwise this precious industry of Assam will be destroyed.” He urged all to help them in their own homes as the industry was by tradition home based.