NJ Thakuria
Guwahati: A major initiative for establishing an important data centre catering to the needs of the entire north-eastern region has been taken by the BJP led Assam government in Dispur. State chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal takes the lead for the 350-crore state-of-art National Data Centre to be established by the National Informatics Centre at Amingaon on the northern bank of Brahmaputra.
Required funds for the North Guwahati project will be provided by the Union electronics & information technology ministry. The concerned Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, his deputy Sanjay Dhotre along with Sonowal, State finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, State information technology minister Keshab Mahanta, etc are expected to participate in the bhoomi poojan program. The initiative is expected to emerge as a digital boon for the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura besides Assam.
Meanwhile, Sonowal held a meeting with the vice-chancellor and faculty members of Assam Agriculture University in Jorhat and discussed a slew of measures for the growth of agriculture in Assam. Sonowal made it eloquently clear that since the State economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture, efforts should be made to bolster the concerned sector.
“Since thousands of families are dependent on agriculture for the economic development of the farming community, the agriculture university should draw a road map and play crucial roles. Stating that Central and State governments have initiated several schemes for the empowerment of the farmers, Sonowal asserted that the concerned university should take pragmatic steps for the success of various relevant schemes.
He analysed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several steps to raise the dignity of the farmers across the country. Disclosing that under Atmanirbhar Bharat rupees one lakh crore earmarked for agriculture, Sonowal stated that the share of Assam from the stimulus package would be used to improve agriculture infrastructures. He also added that the Act East Policy enunciated by the Centre has opened up new doors of opportunities in communication, transportation, trade and business.
