Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid out an ambitious development roadmap in the state Assembly on July 15. The plan targets rapid industrial growth, poverty reduction, and massive infrastructure overhauls. Sarma announced a Rs 2 lakh crore investment aimed at boosting transport, aviation, and railway networks over the next five years. The government is also pushing for a major jump in energy capacity, aiming for 8,457 MW of power generation compared to the previous 450 MW output.
Poverty rates have dropped from 32.67 per cent in 2015 to 14.47 per cent today. Sarma credits direct benefit transfers for this shift. "To attack poverty directly, direct cash benefit transfer is the way," he said. The Chief Minister intends to drive the poverty rate into the single digits. He pointed to flagship programs like Orunodoi, Nijut Moina, and free foodgrain distributions as key drivers of this progress. He contrasted these current successes with past Congress-led administrations, claiming earlier welfare efforts suffered from massive leakages because beneficiaries lacked bank accounts and Aadhaar.
The government intends to create one lakh jobs by building new satellite cities. Furthermore, a medical college will rise in Mankachar within five years. Sarma also proposed a plan to solve chronic flooding in Guwahati’s Nabin Nagar. He wants to bring the area under the Local Planning Authority to install modern drainage, though he insists local resident consent is mandatory for the project to start.
Sarma also targeted the state’s reliance on outside food. He alleged an "egg syndicate" drives up costs and wants a new tax on imported eggs to force local production. He proposed funding egg production units in all 126 Assembly constituencies, each with a capacity of one lakh eggs. "Our demand should be that Assam becomes so self-reliant in egg production that not a single egg enters through the Srirampur gate," he said. To fund these local units, he proposed Rs 20 lakh in assistance for each project.
Sarma warned that the government will move against anyone stalling development. He specifically accused individuals influenced by Left ideology of attempting to sabotage infrastructure projects. He urged all legislators to mentor young students and push local entrepreneurship to secure the state's future.
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