GUWAHATI — Chief
Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that there will be one
university and one medical college in every district of Assam.
Addressing the media, Sarma argued that Assam has been developing
at a very fast pace.
He said, “It is a tremendous accomplishment that at least 80
lakh people have been lifted out of poverty in recent years. The state
administration has prioritised health and education. Many colleges were
promoted to universities under the present administration.”
According to the Chief Minister, the government is currently
building 23 medical colleges, and work on three more will start in a year.
“There were just three medical colleges for a very long time
when Congress was in power. We are now building 23 medical colleges around the
state, and we plan to start building three more in the districts of Darang,
Hojai, and Hailakandi within the next year,” he said.
According to Sarma, there is at least one university in
every district that can be found if one travels the entire length and breadth
of Assam.
“We have established universities in Hojai, Nagon, Cachar,
Bajali, and Lakhimpur -- nearly every district in the state has a university
under construction or we could finish establishing one,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that the government is trying to
build a bridge across the Brahmaputra in each district.
He stated, “Together with universities and medical colleges,
we are constructing bridges across the Brahmaputra River. No one could have
predicted that Assam would develop so quickly. We will soon come under one of
the developed states in the country.”
Meanwhile, the CM announced that various grants and assistance
will be distributed under various government schemes in the next 12 days across
the state. The series of programmes was kick-started on Wednesday by him.
Under the microfinance incentive and relief scheme, more
than 78,000 borrowers will benefit through the state government’s relief
package which will restore their creditworthiness and it will also provide them
financial stability.
The CM said, “More than 3.23 lakh bicycles will be
distributed in the next 12 days among the school students across the state
along with distribution of 48,673 scooters for meritorious students under
various schemes.”
Nearly 27,000 top performers in the Class 10 examination
will be given cash awards, Sarma said.
Moreover, the state government will distribute INR 353.67
crore to the 6.86 lakh disaster-affected families for the reconstruction of
their houses, meeting their necessary requirements along with essential
supplies.
Sarma stated, “6,490 Self Help Groups (SHG) are set to get a
support of INR 21.90 crore for setting up food processing units.”
