PM Modi lays foundation stones of two hospitals, launches 'Asom Mala'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stones (in the virtual mode) of two hospitals and launched the 'Asom Mala' — a programme to upgrade the State highways and the major district roads — at Bhotpara Pathar, Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district, in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister Rameswar Teli, and State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma among other dignitaries.

Notably, the proposed Biswanath Medical College & Hospital to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 565 crore and the Charaideo Medical College & Hospital at an estimated cost of Rs 557 crore would greatly enhance the medical facilities in the State while 200 new MBBS Doctors would pass out from them annually. On the other hand, through the 'Asom Mala' scheme, road infrastructure in the state would be substantially improved.

Earlier, the Prime Minister reached Bhotpara Pathar at 11.45 am. After laying the foundation stones and launching the 'Asom Mala' scheme, Prime Minister Modi addressed the huge public rally attended by more than 4 lakh people from different parts of Assam. He began his address exclaiming "Bharat Mata Ki Jai!"

Expressing his gratitude to the people of Assam for the affection shown to him, Modi recalled the glorious history of the freedom fighters and the sacrifices of the martyrs for the Tricolour at the Dhekiajuli Police Station in 1942, and offered his tributes to the 13 freedom fighters from Dhekiajuli who made the supreme sacrifice on September 20, 1942 during the 'Quit India Movement'.

Prime Minister Modi further said that leaving behind violence, deprivation, tension, discrimination and struggle, the entire North East is now moving forward on the path of development with Assam playing a key role.

Modi also said that after the historical Bodo Accord and the recent Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election, a new chapter of development and trust has opened in this region.

"This day bears testimony to a significant change in the fortune and future of Assam, as Assam is being gifted two new medical colleges in Biswanath and Charaideo and foundation laid of modern infrastructures through the 'Asom Mala'," said the Prime Minister.

Dwelling on the medical infrastructure in the State during the tenure of the previous Congress government, Prime Minister Modi said that Assam had only six medical colleges till 2016 after Independence. However during the last five years, work on six new medical colleges has been initiated. The proposed medical colleges & hospitals at Biswanath and Charaideo will cater to the people of north and upper Assam, he pointed out.

Similarly, in the backdrop of just 725 medical MBBS seats in the State, as many as 1,600 new doctors will come out every year once these new medical colleges becomes operational. This will significantly improve the medical and health facilities in the far-flung areas of the State. Prime Minister Modi further declared that at least one medical college of Assam will be in the Assamese medium so that the students of Assam may study their MBBS course in the Assamese medium.

The Prime Minister also informed that work at the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Guwahati is progressing at a rapid pace, adding that the medical institute has already started its first batch. The work on the AIMS will be over in the next one and half to two years, he added.

Asserting that the present State government is working for the people of Assam with full dedication, the Prime Minister outlined the efforts made to meet the health needs of the people of Assam. He also said that about 1.25 crore people in Assam are getting the benefits of the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme as more than 350 hospitals have been enrolled under this scheme. About 55 lakh people in Assam have availed the primary health treatment in the health and wellness centers that have been established across the State. He also said that the 'Prime Minister Dialysis Programme' is bringing positive changes in the lives of the common people.

Prime Minister Modi added that the people of the tea gardens of Assam have been given an opportunity to participate in the growth of their State. He also informed that crores of rupees have been transferred to the account holders of 7.5 lakh tea-garden workers under the 'Dhan Puraskar Mela' scheme on Saturday. Pregnant women are being helped by a special scheme. Special mobile medical units are sent to the gardens to take care of the workers. Free medicines are also provided. This year's Budget has announced a scheme of Rs 1,000 crore for the welfare of the tea gardens workers, he added.

The Prime Minister also informed about the conspiracy to malign the image of Indian tea. He said that documents have come to light where some foreign-based forces are planning to attack the identification of tea with India. From the land of Assam, the Prime Minister declared that these conspiracies will not be allowed to succeed and people will demand answers from these attackers and those who support them. "Our tea workers will win this fight, and these attacks on Indian tea," said the Prime Minister.

He also said that modern roads and infrastructure have a major role in increasing Assam's capabilities. Keeping this in mind, 'Asom Mala' has been started in line with the 'Bharat Mala' project. Modi also said that during the last few years, thousands of kilometers of long roads and many bridges have been constructed in the State. He expressed the hope that the 'Asom Mala' project will fulfill the dreams of the people of Assam to have a network of broad roads and connectivity for all villages and modern cities. These works will gain new momentum in the coming days as an unprecedented emphasis has been place on infrastructure in this year's Budget for rapid growth and progress, said the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the programme, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Assam and said that the state government has been able to fulfil all its promises due to the constant support and cooperation of the Prime Minister. During the 74 years period after Independence, Prime Minister Modi was the first Prime Minister who gave importance to Assam at the national level; and due to the relentless efforts of the Prime Minister Assam has been able to curve out a separate identity for itself, he said. The Chief Minister also remarked due to increased allocation to Assam in the Union Budget Assam has been able to make steady progress in the last few years and this year's Union Budget also allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the women and children of tea garden areas has reflected the goodwill of the Central government towards Assam.

Highlighting steps like providing Rs 300 crore for development of Kamakhya Temple, Rs 1,097 crore for infrastructure development in Majuli, Rs 34,000 crore for building 1,300 km of roads across the districts by the Central government, Sonowal also said that due to Prime Minister Modi's visionary leadership, peace has returned to Assam as members of several militant organizations have surrendered arms and come back to the mainstream. He also said that Prime Minister Modi has emerged as a true world leader and he assured that the people of Assam would extend full cooperation towards achievement of Prime Minister's vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat'.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Finance, Health, & PWD, Himanta Biswa Sarma recollected how Prime Minister Modi stood strongly by the side of the people of Assam during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said that Prime Minister Modi has set an example before the whole world by providing COVID-19 vaccine to other countries as he has also provided six lakh vaccines to Assam. Due to the Prime Minister's constant support Assam is developing in all sectors and the State has emerged as one of the top five States in the country, he added.

Sarma also informed that the Prime Minister has provided Rs. 180 crore for the construction of each new medical colleges in the State; and from July onwards, the people from the State would not need to go to places like Delhi for medical treatment as AIIMS at Changsari would become operational. He also informed that the Rs 8,000 crore 'Asom Mala Scheme' inaugurated by the Prime Minister would greatly improve the road infrastructure system in the State; and two roads under the scheme would also be built at Dhekiajuli and Borsala Constituencies.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Union Minister Rameswar Telli, State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, MPs Dilip Saikia and Pallab Lochan Das, Housefed Chairman Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Dhekiajuli MLA Ashok Singhal, Borsola MLA Ganesh Limbu and Sootia MLA Padma Hazarika.

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