STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma specified the role of deputy commissioners and said, “Deputy commissioners must not get involved in routine administrative works but must spend time on the overall progress of districts across key developmental parameters”.
The Chief Minister said this at the three-day conference of deputy commissioners that began in the Tinsukia district on May 15. Addressing the conference today, the Chief Minister said, “Now on, the deputy commissioners will have to look after the overall development of the districts. All officers of Health, Education, Transport, PWD, etc., will have to report to the deputy commissioners. Even revenue collection will come under the direct monitoring of the deputy commissioners.”
He said, “To streamline the administration, we are linking every constituency to just one circle officer. We want to synchronize both revenue work and developmental work. My first priority is to bring uniform development to all districts. Once we make an assessment, I want the deputy commissioners from less-performing districts to go once to visit their high-performing counterparts.”
He said, “The deputy commissioners and officers sometimes forget what I say. They should note down what I say, and execute them.”
He further said, “We need to start measuring GDP at the district level. The deputy commissioners have to function as the chief secretaries, and the guardian ministers are the chief ministers of the districts. This is the mindset we want to implement.”
On the deputy commissioners’ conference, he said, “Among other issues, the following will be deliberated upon: decentralizing administration, measuring accountability of district commissioners at the constituency level, and modalities for successful implementation of 12 flagship schemes of the Government of India and the Government of Assam. Looking forward to joining this important meeting, we embarked on a journey to revamp the state administration in order to bring it closer to the people.”
The meeting held on May 15 was a group meeting with a minister and an additional chief secretary reviewing the developmental works of the districts. The Chief Minister reviewed the outcome of yesterday’s meeting in the first half of the meeting today. The second half discussed the issue of LAC-wise deputy commissioners in the state.
The Chief Minister said, “We have taken the views of the deputy commissioners on the venture to set up LAC-wise deputy commissioner offices in the state.”
The conference will review the work of the 12 flagship schemes of the Central and state governments tomorrow.
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