Assam Cabinet decides to create 81 sub-districts, 4 districts

98 percent of 1,238 decisions implemented

Cabinet holds 100th meet

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held its 100th meeting at the State Guest House at Kharghuli here today and took a slew of crucial administrative decisions, including the creation of 81 sub-districts and the recreation of four districts.

The over-five-hour-long marathon Cabinet meeting also took several other crucial decisions, besides the Chief Minister placing the report card of the decisions of the past 99 cabinet meetings and their implementation.

Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said, “The State Government abolished four districts of the state on December 31, 2022. I assured the people of those districts that I would recreate the four abolished districts after the delimitation exercise. We decided to create four districts: Hojai, comprising areas of Binnakandi, Lumding, and Hojai LAC; Biswanath, comprising areas of Biswanath, Gohpur, and Behali LAC; Tamulpur, comprising Tamulpur and Goreswar LAC; and Bajali, comprising Bajali, Bhawanipur-Sorbhog LAC. We have also abolished 24 civil subdivisions of the state and created 81 sub-districts. The subdivisions had SDOs (civil) as heads, but an ADC (Additional District Commissioner) with almost equal power as that of a district commissioner will head each sub-district.”

According to the Chief Minister, the 81 sub-districts are: Golokganj, Gauripur, Birsing Jarua, Bilasipara, Jaleswar, Goalpara West, Dudhnoi, Abhayapuri, Srijangram, Bhobanipur-Sorbhog, Mandia, Chenga, Pakabetbari, Bajali, Chamaria, Boko-Chhaygaon, Palasbari, Rangiya, Kamalpur, Dispur, Dimoria, Jalukbari, New Guwahati, Borkhetri, Tihu, Sipajhar, Dolgaon, Jagiroad, Lahorighat, Dhing, Rupahihat, Kaliabor, Samaguri, Barhampur, Raha, Binnakandi, Hojai, Lumding, Dhekiajuli, Borsola, Behali, Rangapara, Naduar, Biswanath, Gohpur, Bihpuria, Naoboicha, Ranganadi, Dhakuakhana, Sissibargaon, Jonai, Sadiya, Doomdooma, Makum, Margherita, Digboi, Chabua-Lahowal, Khuang, Duliajan, Tingkhong, Naharkatia, Mahmora, Demow, Nazira, Teok, Mariani, Titabor, Khumtai, Sarupathar, Dergaon, Bokakhat, Lakhipur, Udarbond, Katigorah, Borkhola, Sonai, Dhalai, Algapur-Katlicherra, Ramkrishna Nagar, Karimganj South and Patharkandi. The sub-districts will be effective on January 1, 2024. The Cabinet also gave that status of sadar sub-districts to Dhubri, Goalpara East, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Bajali, Hojai, Hajo-Sualkuchi, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Biswanath, Sonari, Sivasagar, Guahati Central, Nalbari, Mangaldai, Morigaon, Nagaon-Batadrava, Tezpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Silchar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj North.

The Cabinet today adopted a semiconductor policy for the setting up of new industries in the state. The Chief Minister said that the government received many queries regarding the setting up of semiconductor industries as the Brahmaputra stands as a source of water. This policy has provisions for capital subsidies, the setting up of manufacturing units, etc.

The Cabinet also decided to incorporate 85 percent of the marks secured by candidates in the TET for the selection of LP School teachers, besides 10 to 15 percent from academic qualifications.

The Cabinet approved Rs 230 crore for the installation of 2,000 CCTV cameras in Guwahati. The Chief Minister said, “We will install CCTV cameras in Guwahati within this financial year”.

The Cabinet decided to give away the MODI (Most Outstanding District Initiative) Swachh Zila Puraskar for cleanliness and approved Rs 100 crore for that.

The Cabinet adopted the new Rules of Executive Business (Assam Rules of Executive Business, 2023) by replacing the Colonial Rule. The government is run under these rules.

Cabinet today enhanced the widow pension under the National Widow Pension Scheme from Rs 300 to Rs 1,250 in line with Orunodoi. It will benefit 1.34 lakh women.

On the report card of the decisions taken in the past 99 cabinet meetings, the Chief Minister said, “This government took charge on May 10, 2021. We have completed the 100th cabinet meeting in two years and four months. It is a historic record in itself. From 2002 to 2004, 52 Cabinet meetings were held: 50 from 2005–2007, 52 from 2007–2011, 35 from 2011–2014, 37 from 2015–2017, 31 from 2017–2020, and 7 from 2020–2021. That is, the Cabinet held 264 Cabinet meetings in 20 years. Against this backdrop, we held 100 cabinet meetings in two years and four months. We took 1238 decisions in 99 Cabinet meetings and implemented 1,217 decisions fully or (partially 70-80 percent), recording 98 percent achievement. The cabinet decisions we took have importance in the socio-economic aspects.”

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