BJP completes three years of second term in Dhubri Municipal Board

A Correspondent

DHUBRI, April 8: BJP completed three years of its five-year term in Dhubri Municipal Board on Saturday. This is the second term of BJP that has been in power since 2009. The board, while celebrating the completion of three years of its second term, called a media and citizens’ meet to highlight the works it had done over the years, and sought suggestion as how to move ahead with pro-people development works.

 Addressing the meeting, chairperson Pushpa Malo said that due to paucity of fund, major works in the wards could not be done for the last three years. But the board had implemented various schemes, including  Pradhan Mantri Awas Yoja (PMAY)  in the town, which greatly benefitted the residents.

 “In the first phase, 3,243 houses were enlisted and in the second phase 219 were approved by the State-level PMAY committee while 119 applications of beneficiaries are under process for availing credit link subsidy scheme. Beside these, 175 toilets are being constructed in 16 wards under the board, which are likely to be completed within April 30,” Malo informed.

 Speaking in the meeting, Executive Officer Jintu Borah said that in the income-generating sector, various initiatives were taken to uplift the socio-economic condition of the unemployed youth by income generating activities. “All the schemes, including social mobilization and institutiol development, self-help group business activities, employment through skill, training and placement and self-employment programme are functioning to our satisfaction level,” Borah further informed. Borah also informed that in order to support the street vendors, a survey had already been conducted and as many as 1,152 street vendors had been identified, while a plot of land measuring 3,220 square feet was allotted by the board for construction of houses for 37 homeless people in Dhubri town.

 Board sources also informed that under City Mission Magement Unit of the Assam State Urban Livelihoods Mission Society, the board distributed Rs 10,000 revolving fund each to 65 SHGs of Dhubri town recently. The meeting was also addressed by Uttam Prasad and Kalim Uddin Sheikh (Mintu), ward members of ward no 9 and 7 respectively, who resented the fact that though three years had been completed, they could not do any tangible work in their wards.

The board has, in the meantime, set a target of revenue collection to the tune of Rs 4.57 crore for next year from the present collection around Rs. 1.50 crore, a board source added. Discussion on the City Infra Development Fund (CIDF) also figured in the meeting and members were of the opinion of preparing a plan and estimating in advance as Dhubri town was one of the eight towns in the State which had been sanctioned Rs 100 crore in the recent budget for development works.