assam government Archives - Lokmarg

Assam To Build 1,000-Km High-Speed Economic Corridor Costing Rs 3,000 Cr

By LokMarg 10th October 2023

The Assam government in its weekly cabinet meeting approved the construction of a 1000-km “High-Speed Economic Corridor” road project with a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

Announcing the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting held Monday chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said that this proposed high-speed economic corridor will come under the ‘Asom Mala’ project.

The state cabinet also approved the construction of a Judicial Guest House in Kaziranga.

“7 Bigha, 2 Katha, 10 Lessa of land at Halowagaon revenue village under Kaziranga Mouza of Bokakhat revenue circle to be allotted for construction of Judicial Guest House in Kaziranga. The proposed Guest House will boost the tourism sector and provide top-class hospitality to state guests and guests of Gauhati High Court in Kaziranga National Park,” Jayanta Malla Baruah said.

The state cabinet also approved to completion of construction of a new office building under the Commissioner of Taxes with an additional estimate of Rs 11.91 crore for additional works approved. Re-validation of the administrative approval has been issued for Rs 100.61 crore up to March 31, 2024.

The state cabinet also approved funds for Sipajhar Municipal Board, Eco Sensitive Zone of Bherjan-Borajan- Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary. Further, the Assam government will raise a loan of up to Rs 950.43 crore from NABARD, which would be used to expedite the upgradation of 90 rural roads and 4 rural bridges under PWD (Roads).

The state cabinet also approved to hold cabinet meetings in district headquarters in November in Tinsukia in November, North Lakhimpur in December, and Nagaon in January. (ANI)

‘A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Assam; Big Boss Is Watching It Quietly’

By LokMarg 22nd February 2023

Nazimuddin Siddique from Assam feels that arrests in the name of child marriages are an extension of the NRC to enforce a tactical eviction of Muslims from the state

Child marriage is a long-standing problem in Assam. No right-thinking person can support this social malaise. But the question is: how do you stop it. Assam is one of the poorest states in the country. Child marriage exists here due to poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, and social exclusion. The solution to such social practices is long-winding but this government wants a quick and surgical remedy, with use of brutal force.

The state is making arrests of the alleged child marriage violators even when these persons married years ago and now have families to feed. They are arresting the sole breadwinners of such families. Will that be stemming a malaise or causing additional miseries on poor families? I do not have the data but child marriage is prevalent across all communities in Assam. The government could not stop child marriages when it took place; but it is punishing the people for its own failure. Do they even realize the scale of the underlying humanitarian disaster? Over 4,000 people have already been arrested. Where will it stop?

Many believe, and not without reason, that this is just another tool to harass Muslim electorate of Assam. This is not the first time when a legal instrument is being implied to target Muslims, be it the NRC (National Register of Citizen) or eviction drives. The government which is duty bound to look after the welfare of its citizens, is rendering them homeless and selectively so. (Read APCR report on Assam clampdown here)

Many Hindus were also arrested but the scale of arrests is tilted in favour of Muslims. Reports also suggest that Hindus arrested under the provision usually get bail. The way you can violate the human rights of Muslims, you can’t do with Hindus.

***Siddique says it is easy to arrest a Muslim in India nowadays***

Arresting a Muslim is the easiest thing in India nowadays. Civil society among Hindus is vocal. Surprisingly and unfortunately they remain silent, by and large, when it comes to the rights violation of Muslims. Muslims in Assam are systematically facing evictions, encounters, NRC, doubtful voter, and now child marriage crackdown. It is heart-wrenching.

ALSO READ: ‘Child Marriage Yet Another Ploy To Target Muslims In Assam’

I feel the judiciary needs to step in and put an end to such injustice. As per reports, Assam recorded 161 incidents of police action in the first 13 months of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma taking charge in May 2021. These incidents resulted in the death of 51 people while 139 others were injured. Numbers came down when the court interfered.

I am thankful to Gauhati High Court for its intervention in child marriage arrests too. The HC come down heavily on the Assam government for slapping laws such as POCSO against the accused of child marriage cases. It looks like the judiciary is the only way out for the oppressed now. But we all know the process itself is the punishment. Our Constitution guarantees the right to equality and life with dignity. If the government fails to do that, then the judiciary must hold the government of the day for its failure.

I am also disappointed at the apathy of the Centre in this episode. Himanta Biswa Sarma can go to any length in targeting Muslims. He does not need any sanctions from the Centre. We know how will the Central leadership act or react. The Big Boss in Delhi is watching the humanitarian disaster unfold right before his eyes, but won’t bat an eyelid.

The narrator is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University

Assam Govt Launches Projects Worth ₹680-Cr In Nalbari

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday arrived at Nalbari on a day-long visit during which he launched as many as 12 projects aimed at transforming the district into one of the most progressive ones on all fronts in the State.

The total cost of the 12 projects comes to about Rs 680 crore.

Among the projects launched today is the district Sports Stadium Complex at Sariahtoli to be executed at the cost of Rs 51 crore, beautification works of Nalbari town at the cost of Rs 106 crore, the integrated Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex at an approximate cost of Rs 50 crore, upgradation of Government Politechnic Institute and Industrial Training Institute at the cost of Rs 5 crore, a science centre and planetarium with the first-ever 3D projection system in the State, to name a few.

Several road development projects running into an aggregate of nearly Rs 200 crore were also launched.

Addressing a public meeting at the upcoming district Sports Stadium Complex at Sariahtoli, the Chief Minister exuded confidence these initiatives would go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the residents of Nalbari district.

The Chief Minister stated that these initiatives have the potential to radically transform Nalbari district into one of the most progressive districts on multiple fronts in days to come.

He appealed to the people of the district for their cooperation and support in the government’s endeavour for their socio-economic and educational uplift.

He also announced that he would look into the possibility of construction of a state-of-the-art modern sports stadium at Samata.

The Chief Minister stated that in the next couple of months, projects worth a whopping Rs 40,000 crore would be either inaugurated or launched across various districts. The wave of growth and development that has been unleashed by the current regime in the State is a manifestation of the importance welfare of all sections of the society is being accorded, he added.

Referring to the period when one had to resort to strikes and demonstrations to get a genuine popular demand fulfilled, Chief Minister Sarma said genuine aspirations are being taken care of by the current regime on its own, as it understands the pulse of the public.

The Chief Minister also spoke about various initiatives aimed at the welfare of the public, especially those aimed at poverty alleviation, while appealing for mass participation in these programmes.

He appealed to the economically disadvantaged families which were left out of the Orunodoi scheme in its first phase to apply without fail for the upcoming Orunodoi 2.0.

He also sought the public’s cooperation in achieving the intended aims of Mission Basundhara 2.0. Appealing to those involved in paddy cultivation to avail of the paddy procurement scheme, the Chief Minister said this has been launched to ensure there is no distress selling by farmers to middle-men and unscrupulous traders.

He said instructions have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners to take strict actions against any trader found to be purchasing paddy from cultivators at below Rs 2,040 per quintal. (ANI)