Trust of masses a must for any "administrative system": CM Sarbananda Sonowal

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that trust of the masses is a must for any "administrative system", and this becomes a reality only when a government works with "a clean mind and will".

Speaking at the debate on the Governor's speech on the last day of the last session of the 14th Assam Legislative Assembly, Sonowal said, "My prime job is respecting people's feelings and problems. This is the reason why I go to each and every district, meet people, and listen to their woes.

"The chair of the Chief Minister isn't my heirloom. The people of the State gave me the post to work for them. With the lust for power, nobody should do anything that harms the society. This is my appeal to the Ministers and the MLAs as well. This should be their principle.

"I did face a number of challenges in running the State administration. This is because we took power at a time when the people of the State had lost their trust on the government. However, I was ready to fight out every single challenge with grit. I had the firm belief in good governance. Our government will have to ensure social and economic security. And we've been working towards that end."

On corruption, Sonowal said, "Right from the first day of assuming office, our motto has been to make the government free from corruption. It hasn't been a mere slogan. We've proved it by taking action against the former APSC (Assam Public Service Commission) chairman, besides arresting many top-level officers.

"On the SI (sub-inspector) recruitment scam, the investigators were able to submit the charge sheet within 87 days. I had to monitor the progress of the investigation on a daily basis. Now the youths of the State have realized that they can get government jobs only through merit in the State.

"We've successfully done away with the problem of middlemen in various schemes through the implementation of the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) system.

"I do agree that only creation of beneficiaries won't develop the State. Along with creation of beneficiaries, we need to do all we can for their rehabilitation. It's a good sign that many educated youths in the State have started to work in the Agriculture sector.

"During the past four-and-a-half years, we couldn't work for one year because of the outbreak of COVID-19. However, our COVID-management measures have improved our Health infrastructure to a great extent. The State has also made a mark in the COVID-19 management within the nation.

"We've have able to win the masses' love and faith in the past four-and-a-half years. This makes it amply clear that we'll make it to Dispur again."

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