The Speech of Hon’ble Governor, Shri Gulab Chandra Kataria On the occasion of 75th Republic Day Programme - NEWS SENTRY

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Friday 26 January 2024

The Speech of Hon’ble Governor, Shri Gulab Chandra Kataria On the occasion of 75th Republic Day Programme



Today on this auspicious day, I congratulate all my countrymen as on this Day in the

year 1950, the Indian Constitution was implemented and India became a sovereign

and democratic republic.

On this auspicious occasion of 75th Republic Day, I pay my homage to all the

freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of our country. At

the same time, I also express my gratitude and respect to the framers of the

Constitution and those visionary leaders who laid the foundation of our great

democracy.

The theme for this year’s Republic Day is “Viksit Bharat (Developed India)” and

“Bharat – Loktantraa ki Matruka (India – Mother of Democracy)”.

Ladies and gentlemen,

India is truly the mother of democracy. Democracy is the soul of India. It is woven in

the breath and values of common Indians. Democratic values and concepts in India

have developed from ancient and Sanatan cultural thought-flow and philosophy of

life based on cooperation, coordination and co-existence.

The roots of Indian democracy are so deep and wide that the entire world including

Europe and America takes inspiration from it. We should all be proud of our rich

democratic heritage. We take pride that India is the largest and most active

democratic country in the world. The world is watching the emerging power of India.

Taking pride in all its diversities and with all its capabilities, the country is moving

forward and the biggest strength behind it is our Constitution.

Our democratic, sovereign and republican nation India has emerged as a strong and

powerful nation. Today India is the fifth largest economy in the world and in the

coming 5-6 years, India is on its way to becoming the third largest economic

superpower in the world after America and China.

The nation is becoming economically strong today. India has made extraordinary

progress in many fields. We are progressing at a rapid pace on sectors like clean

drinking water, energy, employment, good roads and expansion of railways. Indian

scientists have done excellent work in the fields of space science, strategic research,

modern military equipment, missiles, Tejas aircrafts, agricultural research, scientific

discoveries, communication and technology, foreign trade, atomic energy and

nuclear power.

The expectations and aspirations of our young generation have also increased;

efforts are being made to properly exploit their capabilities by giving them the right

guidance and direction. Through innovative thinking and higher education, our

youths have reached great heights in the service sector.

New opportunities are being created every day; India is moving ahead overcoming

every challenge. We will also be able to fulfill the pledge of “Viksit Bharat (Developed

India)” by 2047. We have to preserve our heritage along with development. We also

have to hand over our heritage to the coming generations. With this thought process,

the country is continuously moving forward.

My dear people of Assam,

It is my good fortune that today I have got this opportunity to present the progress

and achievements of Assam which have highlighted the developmental path of

Assam. The steps for transformation taken in various sectors reflect our dedication

towards the welfare and well-being of the people.

On this auspicious occasion, I am honoured to share with you various milestones

achieved by the departments in several critical sectors.

1. Peace

a) Peace is the basic prerequisite for development and prosperity. If we see

all round development in Assam, it is because peace is prevailing in the

State today. The past year marked two significant milestones in terms of

peace accords. The Government of India took a proactive stance, ushering

in a new era of peace with the historic accord signed with the ULFA on

December 29, 2023, signifying the conclusion of decades-long hostilities.

Additionally, the Dimasa Accord, inked on April 27, 2023, addresses the

aspirations of the Dimasa people, focusing on safeguarding indigenous

communities, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting economic

development in the region.

a) For many decades Assam and the Northeastern states were grappling

with long-standing border disputes involving Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,

Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya since the formation of these states.

The prime concern of the government has been to resolve the border

differences. A major milestone reached with Arunachal Pradesh was the

historic MoU signed by the Chief Ministers of the two States in presence of

Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Union Home Minister on 20/04/2023. The MoU

amicably resolved differences over 71 out of the 123 claimed villages.

Mizoram has also advocated the need for a negotiated settlement of its

border dispute with Assam and discussions are going on for setting up of

Regional Committees.

a) My government is committed to keep security and development of border

areas in the forefront and priority has been accorded to connect all inter-

state and international border districts with all weather road network. We

have given topmost priority for ameliorating and strengthening the existing

BOPs. In that direction, the BOP Management Committees have been

funded and 50 new BOPs have been proposed to setup at strategic

locations along the Inter-State Boundary.

1. Controlling Crime

a) Ensuring societal prosperity is the government's duty, requiring the

maintenance of order and harmony. Our administration prioritizes

eradicating societal issues disrupting social order, particularly child

marriage and drug abuse. With 5,347 cases registered against 8,800

persons accused of child marriage last year, we aspire to completely

eradicate it by 2026. Over 4,407 arrests have been made, and Child

Marriage Prohibition Officers have been deployed. The revamped Special

Task Force (STF) has been playing a pivotal role in combating drug-

related issues, illegal currency circulation, gold smuggling, and wildlife

trafficking, reinforcing our commitment to societal well-being.

a) The Assam government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards

corruption, with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption wing of the Assam

Police actively engaged in anti-corruption efforts.

a) While dealing with national security Assam Police has been firmly dealing

with disrupting elements and have succeeded in dismantling 11 Ansarullah

Bangla Team (ABT) modules, besides banning PFI (Popular Front of India)

arresting PFI and CFI leaders.

1. Infrastructure

a) With peace prevailing, the state is now making significant strides in

infrastructural development. A flagship scheme Asom Mala has been

implemented to improve and upgrade State Highways and Major district

roads to high speed road corridors. Already 5 major roads have been

completed. The project includes major bridges over rivers Dikrong.

Subansiri and Pagladiya. With the World Bank funded Assam Resilient

Rural Bridge Project, more than 1000 bridges have been taken up for

construction, widening and rehabilitation. A new project to be funded by

the World Bank has been taken up in the Dima Hasao District for

developing a disaster resilient arterial road network in the district. Two

elevated roads have been completed in R G Barua road and A T Road in

Maligaon area under Guwahati city.

1. Urban Development

a) Hon’ble PM has clearly emphasised that “Development of new cities and

the modernization of services in the existing ones are the two main

aspects of urban development”. Aligning with the Hon’ble PM's vision, our

government focuses on urban development with a dual emphasis on new

city development and modernizing existing ones. In Guwahati, we prioritize

clean and sustainable transportation, procuring 100 CNG buses and 200

AC EV buses, reducing carbon emissions. Our goal is to make Guwahati

one of the first cities with 100% green public transportation system by

2025.

a) In order to enhance Blue-Green Infrastructure, which is a globally

recognized approach to managing urban flood risk, different measures

have been initiated to preserve urban green cover and natural water

systems. Hence a number of new parks were developed in Guwahati.

Notably, the establishment of the 'Botanical Garden' in Fancy Bazar is a

significant achievement. Several parks are being developed in different

districts of the state like Golaghat, Tinsukia, Sonitpur etc. Restoration &

rejuvenation of water Bodies/Wetlands like Silsako have also been taken

up.

1. Administrative Reforms

a) Our government is functioning under the great aphorism of Bahujana

Sukhaya, Bahujana Hitaya as enunciated in the Rigveda. To undertake the

dictum – for the happiness of the many, for the welfare of the many,

significant administrative reforms have been initiated to enhance citizen-

centric services. A pivotal step in this direction is the creation of 78 Sub-

Districts, co-terminus with Legislative Assembly Constituencies. The newly

established Sub-Districts exclude the BTR Districts and Sixth Schedule

Districts.

a) A cornerstone of our reform measures is the weekly Cabinet meetings,

which have been instrumental in clearing a remarkable 1542 decisions so

far across 114 cabinet meetings.This has ensured efficient and

accountable governance. Departing from tradition, fifteen Cabinet

meetings were held outside the capital complex, fostering direct

connections with the people.

a) Regular conferences with District Commissioners and Superintendents of

Police serve as vital forums for officers to share views and ideas for future

development. Through these meetings, we aim to collaboratively work

towards making Assam a model state in comprehensive development and

good governance.

a) To enhance the prompt delivery of government services, we have

introduced the SewaSetu portal, which is a step up from earlier Assam

Right to Public Service (ARTPS) Portal, encompassing 541 vital services

from various Departments, Autonomous Councils and other citizen centric

services. 1,11,14,240 applications were received in portal till 22-Jan-2024

and with a commendable processing rate of over 84%, lead to the disposal

of 93,81,221 applications. For serving pensioners better, the Kritagyata 2.0

portal has been launched, with 59 departments currently registered. Till

24-Jan-2024, out of 20,484 pension cases received online, 19,697 online

Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) are issued with 96% clearance rate.

Government of Assam is serving it’s employees and pensioners by not

only processing superannuation and VRS pension online but also by

extending services in other pension categories involving family pension,

commutation, invalid, compulsory retirement, revision of pension so that

digital Assam benefits all retired employees as well.

a) The Transport department has been providing 50 Contactless & faceless

services without requiring the applicant to visit DTO Offices. Now Driving

License and Vehicle Registration Certificate are issued only in Electronic

format that can be digitally stored.

a) The Single Window Clearance portal under EODB has expanded to

provide 228 services from 20 departments and 38 Govt organisations. As

of today 99% of the online applications stand disposed of out of almost 18

lakh applications received.

1. Economic Growth

a) With the establishment of peace, the normalization of social order,

significant infrastructural development, and the impetus from

administrative reforms and good governance, the state's economy has

experienced remarkable growth. This remarkable achievement of our

government has been reflected in the prudent fiscal management leading

to over Rs 1.20 lakh crore Budgetary expenditure in FY 22-23, and

economy crossing GSDP of Rupees 5 lakh crore. Our government is also

giving emphasis on introduction of Green Budget and Resilience Budget

since FY 2023-24 to contribute to environmental sustainability. Our Capital

Expenditure has touched unprecedented level this year. Around 11000

crore Rupees worth Capital investment has already been registered in first

8 months of current Financial year. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund

(RIDF) allocation has crossed Rupees 3100 crore during current year. Out

of this allocation NABARD has already provided sanctions against a total

of 475 projects so far amounting to Rupees 2788.11 crore.

a) We thank Government of India for supporting us under Externally Aided

Projects, wherein today, Projects of around 35,000 crore rupees are

underway building up core infrastructure of Assam. Under Special

Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme, State’s fund

allocation has gone up from 430 crore in 2020-21 to 4300 crore last year.

This year, we have already received more than 3000 crore rupees to

support our schemes under Capital Head. Assam Infrastructure Financing

Agency(AIFA) with support from NABARD under NIDA, has taken up

Capital projects worth 6000 crore in different parts of state, covering

sectors of Health and Medical Education, Tourism, Education and Women

and Child development.

1. Industrial Growth and Investment

a) For the growth of industries and attract investment to the State, a new

customized industrial policy has been designed for investors with an initial

investment of Rupees 100 crore. Under the policy, Memorandum of

Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with 14 major investors, for a

total investment of Rupees 11,315.14 crores with 10,450 job opportunities.

Ethanol is a potential sector in the State and in this sector 7 private

projects have been selected as vendors/suppliers by Oil Manufacturing

Companies for an investment of Rupees 1,154 crore, potentially creating

around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

1. Agriculture Sector

a) To invigorate the farming community, the government has implemented the

Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy farmers under the Paddy

Procurement Program. The ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS)

targets the procurement of 7.04 lakh MT through 169 Paddy Procurement

Centers (PPCs). Government has also initiated mustard procurement to

stabilize prices, benefiting 1128 farmers with the procurement of 3273.30

MT under the Price Support System during Rabi 2022-23.

a) To ameliorate the agricultural sector, our government has instituted the

Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). This transformative

initiative, supported by 95% government subsidies, has successfully

established 78 Village Level Farm Machinery Banks out of the targeted 80,

revolutionizing farming practices.

a) Given Assam's inherent inclination towards organic and natural farming,

our government is actively promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices. A

total of 10,244 farmers have undergone training in natural farming

facilitated by Krishi Vigyan Kendras. These efforts not only underscore a

commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices but also align

with global environmental concerns, emphasizing the importance of

environmentally-friendly agricultural methods.

a) With the efforts of Agriculture Department, Assam's agricultural exports,

reached Rupees 1,185 crore from January to August 2023, showcasing

growth in various commodities beyond traditional ones.

a) Our state, blessed with abundant water resources, holds immense

potential for economic growth through the development of water bodies

and the expansion of aquaculture. Currently, Assam ranks 4th as an inland

fish-producing state and 12th in overall fish production nationwide. To

ensure sustainable development, management, and conservation of the

4000-hectare State Fish Beel fisheries, the Fishery Department of Assam

has initiated the implementation of the Externally Aided Project (EAP)

named SWIFT aiming to further enhance the state's fisheries sector.

a) In the veterinary sector, our government is particularly emphasizing on

piggery development, recognizing the potential of pig farming and

allocating Rs. 6 crore for private sector farming in the current fiscal year.

Additionally, Rs. 4 crore has been allocated with the objective of making

the state self-reliant in egg production. To enhance veterinary services,

181 veterinary ambulances have been organized, providing door-to-door

services to livestock farmers for the health check-up and treatment of their

animals.

a) In order to boost the dairy sector with funding support from North Eastern

Council (NEC), a 10,000 Litres per day milk processing plant is going to be

established at Patacharkuchi, Bajali.

1. Public Health

a) In a significant step towards enhancing healthcare infrastructure, our state

achieved a milestone as the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated the first

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in North East India at

Chagsari in Kamrup. The Hon’ble PM has also dedicated three new

medical colleges established at Kokrajhar, Nalbari, and Nagaon. The

initiation of the 13th Medical College in Tinsukia is currently underway.

a) Advancing our commitment to healthcare, four new medical colleges in

Charaideo, Bongaigaon, Biswanath, and Kamrup (M) are in an advanced

stage of construction. Progress is evident for Golaghat, Tamulpur, Dhemaji

and Marigaon Medical Colleges. Additionally, proposals for three more

medical colleges at Goalpara, Karimganj, and Sivasagar are under

consideration.

a) With a total project cost of Rupees 2510 crore, under the ASSIST Project

aided by World Bank, construction of 10 new District hospitals is going on.

The project also covers enhancements to the functionality of 25 existing

healthcare facilities.

a) Another flagship programme of our government is the Ayushman Asom –

Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AA-MMJAY). Lauched on 2 nd October,

2023, the scheme covers additional 28 lakh families, making them eligible

for cashless treatment. Thus, convergence of AB-PMJAY and AA-MMJAY

has enabled 58 lakh families with approximately 1.98 crore beneficiaries to

get benefit of cashless treatment of Rupees 5 lakhs per family per year.

a) The State Government also launched Ayushman Asom – Mukhya Mantri

Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (AA-MMLSAY) for medical reimbursement of

Government employees, pensioners and their dependents through an

online IT portal. This will ensure a smooth and seamless reimbursement

process for the Government employees and pensioners undergoing

treatment.

1. Education

a) Education remains a top priority for our government, and significant efforts

have been dedicated to enhancing its quality in the state. The fifth round of

Gunotsav is currently underway, covering 43,498 government,

provincialized, tea garden model schools, KGBVs, residential schools,

Adarsha Vidyalayas, and tea garden management schools. This program

involves 39,63,542 students (class I to IX) and 18,098 external evaluators,

demonstrating our commitment to educational excellence.

a) Seven government model colleges have commenced operations, and 126

teaching posts have been created. Additionally, 133 teaching (assistant

professor) and 557 non-teaching staff have been appointed in existing

provincialized colleges.

a) Construction is in progress for six new engineering colleges in

Bongaigaon, Behali, and Sualkuchi under NIDA, and Nalbari, Nagaon,

Udalguri under RUSA. Another eight new polytechnics at Hajo, Majuli,

Tingkhong under SOPD, and at Darrang, Karbi-Anglong, Nagaon, Dhubri,

and Dima Hasao under CSS are also underway, expanding technical

education into the interior parts of the state.

a) Initiatives such as providing free bicycles to Class IX students, Anundaram

Barooah Cash Awards for high achievers in the HSLC Exams, and

distributing scooters under the Dr. Banikanta Kakati Award schemes are

taken up to reduce dropout rates and motivate academic performance. A

total of 3,69,454 Class IX students received bicycles. The Anundaram

Barooah Award Scheme was launched for motivating and inspiring the

students for better performance and to have first-hand experience with

Information and Communication Technology. This year, total 27183

students who have secured 75% and above marks in HSLC Examination,

2023 have been awarded @Rs. 15,000/- as “Anundoram Barooah Cash

Award”.

a) To uplift the Tea Tribes and Adivasi community, the state government is

actively issuing scholarships to students in schools and colleges. In the

financial year 2023-24, a total of 65,078 applications have been received

for various scholarship schemes, ranging from a minimum of Rs. 3,000 to

a maximum of Rs. 35,000, depending on the courses pursued.

1. Social Security

a) This year marks the celebration of the 75th year of our Republic. To make

this occasion truly momentous, collective efforts are required with a

renewed commitment to propel Assam to greater heights. The government

has laid a strong foundation through efforts focused on peace

consolidation, economic prosperity, infrastructure development, and

improvement in health and education sectors. Our vision is centered on

ensuring last-mile delivery, drawing inspiration from Deendayal

Upadhyay's Antyodaya vision. The government remains dedicated to the

all-round development of women, youth, and marginalized sections,

working tirelessly to fulfill these objectives.

a) For comprehensive socio-economic development of women in our state,

the government introduced the 'Orunodoi Scheme.' The recently launched

Orunodoi 2.0 extends its coverage to not only antyodaya women but also

includes transgenders, divyangjan, and existing beneficiaries of the Deen

Dayal Divyangjan Pension Scheme and Indira Miri Universal Widow

Pension Scheme. Currently, the government supports 25 lakh Orunodoi

families, providing Rs. 1250 per month through direct benefit transfer

(DBT).

a) Our government, prioritizing last-mile delivery, has instituted the Assam

Micro Finance Incentives and Relief Scheme (AMFIRS), 2021. This

scheme aims to provide incentives and relief to borrowers who availed

small loans from various Microfinance lending institutions in the state. To

date, around 12 lakh micro-borrowers have benefited from the scheme,

with an outlay exceeding 2000 Crore Rupees.

a) To promote the Tea Tribes and Adivasi communities representation, a 3%

reservation within the OBC quota has been allocated for the Tea Tribes

and Adivasi community in State Government jobs. Additionally, the

government has raised the reserved medical seats for students from the

Tea Tribes and Adivasi community from 27 to 30. This is a glaring example

of the State Govt. bid to lift the underprivileged.

a) To meet the requirements of all reserved categories, an essential mission

named Mission Bhumiputra has been embraced. This mission aims to

streamline the issuance and prompt disposal of caste certificate

applications. Mission Bhumiputra seeks to digitally provide caste

certificates to ST/SC/OBC applicants through a unified online application

form for all castes. Individuals interested in obtaining their Caste

Certificates can register and apply online or utilize Public Facilitation

Centres located in District Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officer, and

Circle Officer offices, or Common Service Centres under Mission

Bhumiputra.

a) Launched on November 14, 2022, Mission Basundhara 2.0 introduces

next-generation land-related services. As on 15 th January, 2024, out of

13,39,605 applications received, 'Offers of Settlement' have been

issued to 2,29,659 applicants. Out of a total 6,89,155 applications

received from indigenous ST, SC, OBC & MOBC category applicants for

six services under Mission Basundhara 2.0, 1,92,056 applicants were

given 'Offer of Settlement'.

1. Preservation of Identity

a) In our commitment to safeguard, promote, and preserve Indigenous and

Tribal Faith and Culture, the government has provided Grants-in-Aid to 18

Indigenous & Tribal Faith and Culture Organizations, along with supporting

73 Places of Worship dedicated to Indigenous and Tribal Faith and

Culture.

b) Additionally, Rs. 2 Cr. (Two Crore Only) Grants-in-Aid were allocated for

the construction of a Cultural and Heritage Centre to Dularai Bathou

Gouthum (All Bathou Mahasabha) of Kamrup Metropolitan district and

Rs.15 Lac. (Fifteen Lac Only) to Kalicharan Brahma Sewashram in

Bahirabkunda at Udalguri district.

1. Sports, Culture and Legacy

a) The Sports and Youth Welfare Department is actively promoting sporting

excellence and identifying talents through the "Khel Maharan," a

grassroots-level mega sports event. The competition spans from the Gram

Panchayat (GP) level to LAC level and District level, culminating in State

Level Competitions starting from January 28 at six different locations. The

event covers Athletics, Football, Kabaddi, Volleyball, and Kho-Kho.

Remarkably, over 27.26 lakh players/athletes have participated at the GP

level, establishing Khel Maharan as the largest grassroots sports

movement in the state. Notably, around 70,000 players in the Under-19

category and approximately 40,000 players in the Above-19 category have

been identified for their potential based on their performances at the GP

level.

a) In line with our commitment to promote sports, the government has

undertaken initiatives to enhance sports infrastructure in the state. Three

state-of-the-art stadiums are currently in development at Khanikar in

Dibrugarh district, Saboti in Lakhimpur district, and Sualkuchi in Kamrup

district, along with several other infrastructure projects. Additionally, two

High-Performance Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centers have been

established in Guwahati and Jorhat through collaboration with the Abhinav

Bindra Foundation.

a) The Assam Sanskritik Mahasangram 2023-24, initiated by the Government

of Assam, aims to discover hidden talents in the state and provide a

platform for individuals to showcase their musical and dance skills. This

competition covers various age groups, ranging from 12 to 35 years, in

four distinct singing categories: Jyoti Sangeet, Bishnu Rabha Sangeet,

Bhupendra Sangeet, and Rabindra Sangeet. Additionally, two group dance

categories include Bihu dance and Ethnic dance. Over 10 lakh people

registered for the competitions, and slightly above 3 lakh individuals

enthusiastically participated, drawing large crowds to witness the events.

a) Our government is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich legacy

and cultural heritage inherited from our forefathers. We express gratitude

to Hon’ble Prime Minister for nominating Charaideo Maidam as the sole

proposal for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition from the country. A

Draft Nomination dossier on Maidams, the mound burial system of the

Ahom Dynasty, has been submitted to UNESCO for inclusion in the final

list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. An expert from the International

Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has already evaluated the

Charaideo Moidams Archaeological site. A World Heritage Panel

Dedicated Meeting took place on November 24, 2023, at the ICOMOS

headquarters in Paris, France, attended by officials from the Government

of India and the Government of Assam.

a) On April 14, 2023, a remarkable achievement was attained with the

creation of a Guinness World Record for the largest Bihu performance at a

single venue. This extraordinary feat involved 11,369 Bihu performers from

across the State participating in the Mega event. The grand occasion was

honored by the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

1. Youth Led Development

a) State Government is steadfast towards fulfilling its commitment of

providing 1 lakh government jobs. The State Level Recruitment

Commission (SLRC) for Class III Posts, and Class IV Posts have already

selected candiates for jobs. In its journey towards fulfilling the promise my

government has already filled up 88,547 vacancies in the government

jobs.

a) To empower the youth, our government has implemented various

schemes. Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) targets 2

lakh eligible beneficiaries over the next 2 years, with 1 lakh beneficiaries

selected in FY 2023-24, receiving financial support of Rupees 2 lakh

(general category) and Rupees 5 lakh (professional courses). 2.29 lakh

applicants have registered under CMAAA.

a) Recognizing the pivotal role of youth in state development through

entrepreneurship and startups, my government has established the Assam

Venture Capital Fund of Rupees 200 crore in collaboration with SIDBI,

aiming to make Assam a startup hub. This initiative has incubated 257

startups, securing external funds totaling Rupees 74 crore and generating

revenue amounting to Rupees 33 crore. Additionally, Rupees four crore

ninety nine lakh eighty thousand in grants were awarded to 272 startups

recognized under the My Assam Start-up ID (MASI) program. The

inaugural Assam Start-up Fest took place in August 2023.

a) Assam Credit Guarantee to Micro & Small Enterprises Scheme with a

corpus support of Rupees 100 crore leading to a portfolio creation of

Rupees 5000 crore has been made effective from 01st April, 2023, in

coordination with SIDBI. The priority sector lending in MSME sector has

shown huge improvement as more than 16,000 crore credit provided in the

first two quarters of the financial year, which is almost 60% improvement

from last FY.

a) Under the National Career Service (NCS), seven Model Career Centres

have been established at District Employment Exchanges, enhancing

employment opportunities. Our government’s MoU with naukri.com has led

to the successful launch of the Assam Job Portal (job.assam.gov.in) on

July 4, 2023, for providing avenues for job seekers both locally and

beyond.

1. Environment

a) In our pursuit of development, environmental sustainability remains a

priority. To bolster the state economy and enhance green cover, our

government initiated the innovative Amrit Brikshya Anodolan, a

monumental plantation drive taken up on September 17, 2023, involved

the planting of over one crore seedlings of 53 commercially viable tree

species. This initiative leveraged Jan Bhagidari by engaging SHGs, ASHA

Workers, Anganwadi Workers, VDP members, Tea Gardens, Educational

institutions, and Government departments. The implementation of Amrit

Brikshya Andolan, 2023, resulted in the creation of 10 Guinness World

Records.

a) To expand the Protected Area, the 2nd Addition of Orang National Park

covering 200 sq. km was officially designated as a National Park on

August 25, 2022. A comprehensive eviction operation was conducted from

May 28 to June 1, 2023, and the entire encroached area was cleared

successfully. This has led to the return of various wild animal species such

as elephants, tigers, rhinos, wild buffalo, and hog deer to the area.

Additionally, 1482 hectares of land have been reclaimed in Burhachapori

Wildlife Sanctuary and Chirang Reserve Forest.

a) Assam has been successful in reducing the number of polluted river

stretches to nine (9) from forty-four (44) through various interventions

including River Rejuvenation Activities, strict enforcement of Effluent

Treatment by the industries etc.

1. Flood and Erosion

a) The Water Resources Department has protected 16.50 lakh hectares of

flood affected land out of 31.05 lakh hectares of flood prone area in the

state by constructing 4512.525 Km of embankment, 1219 number of anti-

erosion & town protection works, 119 number of major sluice, 545 number

of minor sluice, 899.829 Km of drainage channels and 986.944 Km of

raising & strengthening of existing dyke.

1. Implementation of Central Flagship Schemes

a) Central Flagship Schemes have played a critical role in economic

development of the State.

a) Under the PMAY-G, Assam has received a total fund of Rupees 8,805.28

crore, comprising Rupees 7,924.75 crore from the Central share and

Rupees 880.52 crore from the State share in 2023. The state has utilized

Rupees 9,138.44 crore against the fund received. To complement PMAY-

G, our government has also initiated Mukhya Mantri Awaas Yojana-

Gramin (MMAY-G), a state flagship scheme for providing houses to the left

out beneficiaries of PMAY-G in 2023-24.

a) The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) scheme,

transforming farmers' lives, released its 15th instalment of Rs. 487.38 Cr.

benefitting over 12.16 lakh farmers. The Govt. will ensure to include all

eligible farmers in the scheme within the year.

a) Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY),

the State has been able to achieve the milestone of extending cashless

medical treatment to 10.00 lakh beneficiaries since its inception from the

year 2018. Out of them, more than 4 lakh beneficiaries have availed

benefit of cashless treatment of Rupees 588 crores in the year 2023.

Under AB-PMJAY, 30 lakh families under NFSA are eligible to receive

cashless medical treatment of Rupees 5 Lakh per year.

a) The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), aims to provide Functional Household Tap

Connections (FHTC) to every rural household with a daily supply of 55

liters per capita. Assam commenced with a 1.6% FHTC coverage at the

launch of JJM in 2019 and by end of 2023 almost 71.28% households

have been provided with functional household water connection.

a) As part of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Assam, a cadre of young

students has been established as Jal Doots (Water Ambassadors). These

Jal Doots are trained in various aspects of safe drinking water through

specially designed workshops known as Jalshaala. Currently, there are

over 22,000 Jal Doots, and the plan is to onboard nearly 3 lakh Jal Doots

in the near future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am honoured to share the remarkable strides and initiatives

undertaken by our government in Assam, aimed at fostering holistic development

and addressing the diverse needs of our citizens. From visionary policies in

agriculture, health, and education to sustainable environmental practices and cultural

preservation, our collective efforts have created a pathway for a prosperous and

inclusive Assam. As we celebrate the 75th year of our Republic, we are steadfast in

our commitment to uplift every section of society, ensuring progress, peace, and

prosperity for all. With gratitude and dedication, let us continue to work together for

the brighter future we envision for our beloved state.

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