Guwahati: Assam Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi and State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma conveyed their greetings and best wishes to the people on the occasion of Durga Puja. In separate messages, both head of the State and the head of the government expressed hope that the celebrations would bring people closer and strengthen old ties between different communities and ethnicities.
“Durga Puja is celebrated every year to mark the victory of good over evil. May Maa Durga’s blessings empower all sections of people in the society and enhance peace, unity and camaraderie while driving away all negative forces,” said CM Sarma.
Both, however, urged the devotees to maintain all Covid-19 protocols during the festive season.
Meanwhile, Sarma visited Nalbari on Monday (October 11) to formally inaugurate Anna Mahotsav, where he distributed free ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY). In view of the corona crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the PMGKY from April to June 2020 during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
After its success, the second phase was initiated from July to November last year. The third phase was announced during the second wave of the pandemic, in which every ration cardholder under the national food security act is allowed to receive five kilograms of food grains from April to November 2021.
Speaking at a function in Nalbari town, Sarma commented that through Anna Mahotsav, efforts have been taken to generate awareness about the PMGKY benefits so that targeted beneficiaries of Assam can be brought under the ambit of the scheme. He also said that through this scheme additional five kg of food grains would be given to nearly 59 lakh beneficiaries holding NFSA cards.
The government has already taken steps to waive off micro finance loans to the beneficiaries as the process of waiving off is starting from November, revealed Sarma adding that it will also provide one lakh jobs to the youths of Assam. He also informed that the government would raise the number of Orunodoi beneficiaries from next year, wherein for each constituency, at least five thousand more beneficiaries will be created.
Talking about the development of the Nalbari district, Sarma announced that an integrated deputy commissioner’s office would be built in a new location at a sprawling 22 bigha of land involving a financial outlay of rupees 50 crores. Moreover, a modern stadium will also be constructed with the same amount of expenditure. He also added that a well-laid network of drains with an estimated project cost of rupees 120 crore is also on the card.
In the presence of State ministers Ranjeet Kr Dass, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Ajanta Neog, Parliamentarians Dilip Saikia, Queen Oja, legislators Jayanta Malla Baruah, Bhabesh Kalita, BJP organising secretary Phanindra Nath Sarma with other dignitaries, Sarma also announced that the Pagladia embankment would be transformed into a motorable road from Bijulighat to Tamulpur with the expenditure of rupees 150 crores.
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