Himanta Biswa Sarma promises university, airport, micro finance loan waiver in Karbi Anglong

CORRESPONDENTS

BOKAJAN: State Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma arrived in Karbi Anglong and took part in two election campaign rallies- one in Baithalangso and the other in Bokajan constituency - on Friday. Sarma was accompanied by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) CEM Tuliram Ronghang, MP Horensing Bey and a host of prominent leaders, including several EMs and MACs of KAAC.

Addressing the gathering at Koilamati under Bokajan LA constituency, Sarma vowed to set up a State University and an airport in the hill district of Karbi Anglong after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms government in Dispur again. "In the past five years, the BJP government has addressed a host of developmental issues in the hill district starting from roads to bridges, medical college to cancer hospital. Now, a State university and an airport in the district is the need of the hour and I promise to the people that in the next five years, if our party is voted to power, we are committed to set up a university and an airport in the district," he said.

Sarma also promised waiver of loans taken from micro finance institutions if the BJP was voted to power in Dispur. At present, repayment crisis leading to loan defaults among rural households has remained a major issue in Assam.

Sarma also announced to provide free Scooty to girl students who secure second division in the hill district of Karbi Anglong. "In Karbi Anglong district, students' access to education is scarce due to scanty institutions and hence to encourage girl students, we are planning to provide Scooty to girls who secure at least second division in Class 12," he added.

He also expressed confidence that the BJP-led alliance would win 42 out of 47 seats in the first phase of poll on March 27.

Dongkamukam: With just a couple of days left for the second phase of assembly polls, star campaigner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and State Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday campaigned for 20th Boithalangso BJP nominated candidate Rupsing Teron in West Karbi Anglong. He addressed a massive rally in Kheroni.

Sarma in his speech mentioned about the Orunudoi scheme, a scheme for women through which stipend money was accredited into the savings account of a BPL family. "The money will be increased from Rs 830 to Rs 3,000 per month and initially it was sanctioned for 16,000 families but now it can be availed by all the BPL families," Sarma said.

The minister also assured that micro finance loan of women SHGs would be waived off by the government. In the meeting he assured that girl students of Karbi Anglong who secure second division in the Higher Secondary (HS) conducted by AHSEC would be given Scooty.

Regarding employment generation, he said that over 3,000 posts for West Karbi Anglong district would be filled up after the election and the State Government would also advertise for 1 lakh jobs soon after the election.

Sarma also further said that Rs 70 crore had been sanctioned for construction of road from Kheroni to Mailoo road. He assured that a university would be set up in Diphu within five years and an airport would also come up in Karbi Anglong.

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) CEM Tuliram Ronghang in his speech reiterated the demand for early implementation of Article (244) A before the minister. He highlighted the activities done during his tenure as CEM.

MP Horensing Bey made a scathing attack on All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) leaders for 'misleading the hill tribals, especially Karbis, in the name of the Sixth Schedule'.

In the meeting, the BJP's election manifesto was released and Opposition leaders Dhon Dera and Dharmendra Chowhan joined the BJP along with their supporters.

The meeting was attended by BJP candidate Rupsing Teron, EM Mongolsing Timung, MAC Probhat Taro, MAC Rina Terangpi and other leaders and supporters.

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