Guwahati: Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal is declared a winner to Rajya Sabha from Assam unopposed as none filed nomination papers for the seat. The immediate past chief minister collected the winner’s certificate on Monday from the State assembly secretariat at Dispur.
State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, State minister Pijush Haarika accompanied him on the occasion. The saffron leader, who was elected to the State assembly from the Majuli constituency, filed his nomination papers on 21 September and his documents were found valid by the concerned authority. Earlier CM Sarma graced an MoU signing ceremony on Saturday where Punjab National Bank (PNB) entered into an agreement with Assam Bio-Refinery for producing bio-ethanol. The reputed bank will now provide loans to agriculture farmers to raise bamboos that will be purchased by Assam Bio-Refinery for producing bio-ethanol.
Sarma termed it as a good beginning saying that the initiative will encourage and empower the local farmers to cultivate bamboos which in turn will help in producing green energy. He added that the government is working wholeheartedly to maximise the use of green fuel to reduce environmental pollution.
Thanking the PNB officials for the initiative, Sarma commented that the move would be a giant step towards empowering the farmers. In presence of Bodoland Territorial Region’s chief executive member Promod Boro, PNB managing director Mallikarjun Rao, Assam Bio-Refinery managing director SK Baruah with others, Sarma also presented loan sanction letters to some selected farmers.
Sarma also held a meeting with the representatives of various socio-cultural and students organizations of the Moran community to discuss some longstanding issues and prepare a roadmap to bring about a lasting solution to the problems.
The Saturday meeting was attended by representatives of Asom Moran Sabha, Moran Sahitya Sabha, Moran Karmachari Saikhik Bikash Mancha, All Moran Students Union, All Moran Kala Sanskriti Bikash Kendra and Moran Mahila Sabha, where State minister Ranoj Pegu and legislators Balin Chetia and Suren Phukan were also present.
Responding to their demands, Sarma declared that a committee will be constituted to determine reservation for the community out of OBC quota in the educational institutions, which will meet representatives of the community and submit its report to the government.
He also added that the government will take steps for strengthening the Moran autonomous council and asked the community representatives to prepare an annual action plan to be executed by the council for their overall developments. The government will allocate necessary fund for implementation of the action plan, assured Sarma.
