Assam celebrates birthday of Bodofa as Chatra Diwas, CM rolls out schemes to help students

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam celebrated Chatra Diwas (Students' Day) today as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the state in paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma on his 67th birth anniversary.

At a central programme held at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here today, Chief Minister Sarma, while paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, honoured his rich legacy and appealed to students to learn at least one ethnic language as a mark of respect to the great soul.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, throughout his life, contributed to the socio-economic and cultural empowerment of the people. Therefore, on the occasion of Chatra Diwas, which commemorated his birthday, the Chief Minister announced several measures and rolled them out for the empowerment of students in the state. As a part of the welfare measures, the Chief Minister inaugurated a scheme under which 3.4 lakh students in the higher secondary and degree programmes will be given Rs 1,459 each for buying books. Moreover, 16,763 students will get Rs 7,157 each to pay their mess bills. Every postgraduate (PG) girl student will be entitled to Rs 10,000 annually, and special benefits like minority scholarships to the tune of Rs 2000 and Rs 4000 will be given to every girl student for pursuing higher secondary and degree courses, respectively.

The Chief Minister also started the process of distributing tablets to 51858 schools to enable them to maintain students' data digitally. He also disbursed funds to the tune of Rs 50,000 under the Abhinandan scheme as a government subsidy to the students who are pursuing higher education by taking educational loans. Further, to make education free in colleges, the Chief Minister announced financial aid to 337 colleges.

The Chief Minister said that deeply guided by democratic spirit, Bodofa Upendranath Brahma propagated his principles of live and let live' and we must stand for the survival of mankind in the world'. Dr. Sarma said that Bodofa's thought and philosophy are still active and fresh like flowing rivers. He also opined that every person in the state should be aware of the value of the works rendered by Upendranath Brahma, the former president of ABSU.

Referring to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, who believed that every student should have an aim in life, Chief Minister Sarma said that having an aim in life makes a person's life purposeful. Stating that the celebration of Chatra Diwas to commemorate the birthday of Upendranath Brahma is a historic decision, Dr. Sarma said that the day will help the state reflect on the actions and philosophy of Upendranath Brahma and how they will be beneficial to the students of the state.

The Chief Minister said that the announcements and disbursing of government aid to the accounts of the beneficiary students through DBT will help the government revolutionise the DBT process and get rid of the involvement of any third party. He also said that the government has extended its helping hands to lend self-reliance to every family, which, according to him, will strengthen the edifice of Atmanirbhar Assam.

Dr. Sarma also said that the celebration of Chatra Diwas and the participation of the students from all corners of the state and BTR areas in deed is a testimony that all sections of the people of the state are lending their hands to the empowerment of the student community. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Bodo Peace Accord, which ushered in unprecedented peace and prosperity in BTR.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Sarma also presented sanction letters to a few beneficiaries physically to mark the beginning of the rollout of seven schemes for the benefit of the students. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, and BTC Chief Pramod Boro also spoke on the occasion.