100-day work for all job-card holders: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday, assured the Assam Assembly that his government would ensure 100 days guaranteed work in a year for those having job cards.

Sarma said that he would instruct the BDOs (Block Development Officers) to ensure that all job-card holders get 100 days of guaranteed work. He added that in case some villages in a particular district do not have work, the job card holders should be shifted to the nearby districts to get themselves involved in work.

The Chief Minister's assurance came when the Opposition raised a hue and cry during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly alleging that massive irregularities are taking place in the name of issuing job cards. The matter was raised by the Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed.

Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar demanded an inquiry to find out as to why job-card holders are being deprived of 100 days' work. He said even though many card holders are shown getting 100 days work in official papers, they have not got work practically.

Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that there are certain practical difficulties in giving 100 days work to job-card holders.

RATION CARDS: On the issue of holding ration cards by financially sound individuals, Das who also holds the portfolio of Food and Civil Supply, said the government has already set July 30 as the deadline for the undeserving beneficiaries to return their ration cards. He also said that there are around 40,000 to 50,000 government employees holding ration cards. "Such employees must have got the ration cards when they did not join the government jobs. Now these employees will have to return their cards," he added.

Dass further said that actions will be taken against the undeserving beneficiaries if they do not return their ration cards by July 30. "The photographs of erring beneficiaries will be published in newspapers and media," added the Minister.

Also Read: Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma will Continue as the Chief Minister of Assam for Next 20 Years: Rupjyoti Kurmi

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