GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the State government is working unwaveringly in the interest of the indigenous people of Assam and for the development of the State. The government would take no step, which would harm their interest and carry forward its development agenda in consultation with people of the State. The Chief Minister said this while ceremonially distributing land patta among the indigenous landless beneficiaries in a programme held at Majuli College Playground in Majuli on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister as part of the programme distributed land patta and land allotment letters to 4,513 landless families of Majuli district. Apart from distributing financial assistance amounting to Rs. 3,800 to 176 families who were affected by natural calamity, he also gave away financial grants to 187 schools under the 14th Finance Commission. The Chief Minister also distributed land patta to Dakhinpat Xatra and its Xatradhikar Nanigopal Devagoswami received the land patta from the Chief Minister.
Pointing out that the indigenous people of the State were deprived of their land rights for the last seven decades after the country’s Independence, the Chief Minister stated that his government has taken a proactive step in this direction and announced to provide land patta to one lakh landless local families during this year. He informed that while around 12,000 local landless families were provided land patta last year; his government would distribute land pattas to around 34,000 landless beneficiaries across the State on Tuesday. The Chief Minister also said that the initiative would not only secure the indigenous people’s rights over land but also ensure their protected future, stated a release.
Stating that his government has taken a number of steps to protect Assamese and other local languages, the Chief Minister said that the ‘Bhasa Gaurav Scheme’ has been adopted for this purpose. The Chief Minister also underlined a number of initiatives taken up by the State government for infrastructural development as well as the socio-cultural and spiritual uplift of the people of the State.
Highlighting the immense tourism potential of Majuli, the Chief Minister urged the people of the district to protect its beauty and natural ambiance so that the place continues to attract tourists. The Chief Minister at the same time also said that the land of Majuli could also disseminate the message of peace and harmony in our society and help in strengthening and building a strong and vibrant Assam.
While urging the youth to be guided by logic rather than emotion, the Chief Minister appealed to the people at large to shoulder the responsibility to motivate and inspire the youth for social development and nation-building. He also advised the students to take up their studies very seriously and develop a scientific mindset to successfully face modern-day challenges.
The Chief Minister also said that the State is experiencing a peaceful environment since his government came to power and appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance in bringing the struggle of the Bodo people to a logical conclusion. He added that the agreement signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam and Bodo organizations would in no way change the geography of the State. He termed the agreement as good news for the people of the State and said that his government would take forward the development agenda more vigorously henceforth.