Team Assam to expedite development of all sections of people : Sarbananda Sonowal

Chairing a review meeting with the DCs and SPs of 16 districts along with other top officials of the civil and police administration of the State at Bongaigaon on Wednesday, Sonowal said that people of Assam have put the new dispensation into power and it is the duty of the Government to live up to the desire of the people with honesty, utmost dedication and determination.

After taking over the reins of power in Dispur, the Assam CM in a bid to reach out to the people is conducting review meetings and the one that took place in Bongaigaon today is second after the one in Dibrugarh last month.

In course of the meeting Sonowal asked the Government officials to adopt a ‘humane approach’ to complete updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) within the stipulated timeframe.

The Assam CM also asked the DCs and SPs to adopt all modalities set by the Supreme Court for a ‘correct’ and ‘flawless’ NRC.

Sonowal also asked the officials to ensure ‘no foreigners’ name creeps into the NRC and no genuine citizen is left out of the exercise’.

  “The exercise of updating the NRC should reflect national commitment and national duty and all efforts should be put into place to allay fears of certain sections of the people centering on NRC,” Sonowal said.

The Assam CM also reviewed the progress of the NRC exercise of all the 16 districts by taking the feedbacks from the DCs and SPs present at the meeting.

Sonowal also instructed the district authorities to be vigilant so that forged documents cannot mar the spirit of the NRC exercise.

Sonowal announced that the Government would acknowledge the service of the DCs and SPs with regard to updating the NRC and the best DC and SP will be awarded for showing excellence in NRC exercise.

The issue of ‘D’ voters figured prominently in the meeting. The Chief Minister categorically directed the concerned authority to refer the ‘D’ voters issue to the Foreigners’ Tribunals so that the cases can be disposed of on a fast track basis.

“Due sensitivity must be shown to the ‘D’ voters so that the sense of insecurity does not lead to resentment in any way,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal also reviewed the status of Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) covering 19 districts in the State. Sonowal asked the Deputy Commissioners to put MSDP in their ‘agenda of things’ and to accord due importance so that need-based schemes can be initiated for the welfare of minority communities.

The Assam CM also underscored the need for drawing a roadmap to take MSDP to its logical end.

With regard to the menace of drug trafficking, Sonowal harped on the need for social mobilization by using the services of NGOs and other voluntary organizations to tackle the menace.

The Assam CM also directed the district administration to be prepared with men and materials to help the people during impending flood. Sonowal urged upon the officials to serve ‘dedicatedly’ and with all ‘determination’ so that ‘Team Assam’ can deliver effective governance to the people and the state can emerge as a developed State of the country.

Former Minister Chandan Brahma, MLAs Phanibhusan Choudhury, Gunin Das, Ashok Sarma, Ashok Singhi and Aswini Roy Sarkar, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay along with host of top civil and police officials were present at the meeting.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)