As the deadline approaches for the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be published on July 30 next, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as well as his ministry’s second-in-command, Finance and Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the people of Barak Valley need not to worry as the State Government is with the genuine Indian citizens.
Sonowal while addressing a Mahila Samaroh at Police Parade ground in Silchar in Cachar district on Wednesday, said, “The Government is duty-bound to ensure safety and security to all Indian citizens and genuine Indian citizens should not be worried if their names are left out in the complete draft of NRC.” He also said that all the genuine Indian citizens would get opportunity to get their names included in the NRC in accordance with the guideline laid down by the Supreme Court of India.
Recalling the indomitable role played by the women in Barak Valley region, he underlined the contributions of Kamala Bhattacharjee, Sangita Dutta, Sumitra Dutta, Jutika Das etc and said that the 21st century belongs to women and the remarkable success of Hima Das showed that women if they want can reach to the pinnacle of success.
The CM along with Finance Minister Sarma attended a Mahila Samaroh in Karimganj on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Barak Valley region of the State is marked with brimming potential and the society stretched across on both sides of the river Barak shows the vibrancy of the valley. In this backdrop, the women folk of the Barak Valley region should come forward and work hand in hand with their male counterpart for the development of Barak Valley in particular and the state in general.
Sonowal also said that both Central and State Governments have been working in tandem to channelize the immense potential of the women folk of the country. Therefore, among various women specific schemes, both the Governments have launched ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ and ‘Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni’ to take women empowerment to its logical conclusion.
Sonowal called upon the people of Barak Valley to maintain close vigil on all the developmental schemes being implemented in the region.
Chief Minister Sonowal also handed over cheques among various SHGs in the Mahila Samaroh organised here.
Addressing a gathering of around 20,000 womenfolk from various Self Help Groups (SHGs), Finance Minister Sarma, said, “I and our Government are with every genuine Indian citizen for which no one should fear if their names are not there, as we would stand by them.”
Sarma also informed the huge crowd that as per the State Government’s pension policy an “unmarried girl would get pension if both her parents die leaving her alone to take care on her own”.
He also added, not just an unmarried girl but any lady above the age of 60 years would get pension with effect from October 2 this year, amidst thunderous applause from the womenfolk present in the Mahila Samaroh here.
Before winding up his two-day visit to the Barak Valley, Sonowal also assured the employees of Cachar Paper Mill and Jagiroad Paper Mill that he is in touch with the Prime Minister and his Government is committed in reviving it as soon as possible.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Sarma in his speech also gave a brief overview of all the developmental schemes that the State government has undertaken for the development of Barak Valley. He said that besides a new medical college & hospital that would be set up at Karimganj, the State Government would set up two cancer hospitals at Silchar and Karimganj. He also said that development of road of Barak Valley has assumed priority of the Government and stated that besides the budgetary allocation, another Rs 500 crore would be allocated for the development of the roads of Barak Valley.
Also read: Sonowal assures of safety, security for all Indians living in Assam
Synchronizing with the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal launched an online revenue management system of the Forest Department.
It may be noted that under the scheme, 2392 SHGs under Silchar Lok Sabha constituency would be entitled to financial benefits initially.
After attending the 12th Mahila Samaroh under Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Yojana on Tuesday at Karimganj, Chief Minister Sonowal along with Finance Minister Sarma, Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Panchayat Minister Naba Kumar Doley, Housefed Chairman Ranjeet Kumar Dass, former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha, former Deputy Speaker of Assam Dilip Kumar Paul and a number of MLAs from Cachar participated the Mahila Samaroh in Silchar.