For the Assam Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, the first day of 2024 was apparently hectic as it presented to the people the report card with upward trajectory for the year 2023 through a wide-ranging media interaction and approved multiple key welfare projects on Monday.
Key Measures
The Assam Cabinet approved Rs 200 crore tariff subsidy to APDCL which will provide financial relief to 59 lakh BPL and domestic consumers in Assam.
It approved guidelines for appointment of Anganwadi Supervisors against 25 per cent of total posts of Supervisors from among in-service Anganwadi Workers or AWWs under General Area districts.
Under the new guidelines, upper age limit for Anganwadi workers was removed, written MCQ test and Computer Proficiency Test will be held for selection of candidates.
Selection process will be held at State level and conducted by Director of Women and Child Development.
The Assam Government will submit a proposal to the Centre for inclusion of Madahi community under Kachari tribe at serial no. 5 of ST list in Assam (including the Bodoland Territorial Region and excluding the autonomous districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao)
Land will be settled in favour of 1,194 indigenous, landless families in Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Morigaon, Dhubri, Karimganj, Barpeta and Bajali districts in bothe urban and rural areas under Mission Basundhara 2.0.
Timeline for disposal of cases under Mission Basundhara 2.0 has been extended till January 15, 2024.
All successful cases should pay premium up to January 31, 2024. Else, the settlement offered will stand cancelled for non-payment of premium.
VGR or PGR land will be de-reserved and equivalent quantum of land will be reserved as VGR or PGR.
As many as 33 landless indigenous families will be settled on de-reserved VGR or PGR land.
Reflections on 2023: Key Points by CM Himanta
Assam’s GDP Growth: It was 14.7 per cent for the last financial year and is projected to reach Rs 5 lakh 65 crore during 2023-24. Assam is on verge of becoming an economic powerhouse as its economy will touch near Rs 10,00,000 crore before 2026 and forecast for this year is Rs 6,38,000.
Assam has attained 18 per cent tax buoyancy or internal revenue buoyancy, which points towards the peaceful situations in the State. The tax revenue was Rs 16,631 crore upto November in 2022-23. The tax collection is Rs 19,568 crore in the same duration this time.
Global agencies such as World Bank, ADB invested Rs 58,000 crore in the last three years for Assam’s external aided projects. Guwahati-North Guwahati, Palasbari-Sualkuchi bridges, 3,000 solar power, road connectivity worth Rs 4,000 crore in Dima Hasao, Guwahati water supply project are among those.
Peace Accords: Proving to be a milestone, a total of 11 peace accords were smoothly completed in 2023. For the responsibility taken by the Assam Government, the era of militancy has seen a noteworthy drop, touching almost 90 per cent cessation. Only, ULFA-I headed by Paresh Barauh is active.
The successful conclusion of peace pacts with multiple militant groups like KLNF, KPLT, PDCK, UPLA, DNA, DNLA and ULFA Pro Talk have resulted in a noticeable shift bringing 3,842 members of outlawed militant groups into the mainstream.
Crackdown On Corruption: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption remained active throughout the last year, leading to the arrest of 103 government employees over various graft cases charges. The total amount of cash seized from these operations is close to Rs 4.33 crore last year.
Crimes Against Women: Showing a remarkable shift, the total number of reported cases dropped to 7,453 in 2023 whereas the figure was 30,000 in 2021. Total crime was 1,33,000 in 2021 but it’s 63,000 in 2023, showing 50 per cent reduction in overall crime rate.
Assam recorded pending investigation of 1,33,000 in 2021 and it fell to only 26,000 in 2023. The conviction rate was only 6 per cent in 2021 and it jumped to 17 per cent in 2023. The State is aiming to take the conviction rate to 40 per cent by 2026.
Assam experienced over a 50 per cent drop in crime against women over the last five years, as per the National Crime Records Bureau report for 2022. It is attributed to ‘uncompromising policing’ and other steps implemented under CM Himanta’s leadership.
Crackdown Against Drug Trade: Assam Police seized drugs (heroin) worth Rs 164 per kg. Close to 5,000 people linked with the crime have been lodged in jails and 3,000 cases filed in 2023.
Comments