CM announces Rs 5 crore for constructing rarayan Kalakshetra at Bongaigaon

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 29: “A Kalakshetra will be set up after Koch King rarayan at Bongaigaon. For this purpose, the State Government will provide a grant of Rs 5 crore,” said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after iugurating the Chilarai Bhawan, the Head Office of Sodou Asom Koch-Rajbhongshi Sanmilani at Borbari, VIP Road in the city today.

Speaking as chief guest at the open session, Chief Minister Gogoi said that the Government has been working for the all-round progress and development of different ethnic communities and it has set up different Development Councils for this purpose. “We want that each community must reap the fruits of development and for this we have set up the Development Councils for different communities so that they march along the path of progress and prosperity,” he said, adding that Assam is the first State to have constituted Development Councils.

Gogoi announced that meritorious students from poor, margilised and underprivileged segments of society would be housed in residential schools at Government expenses. The Chief Minister also announced that skill development centres would be set up for different communities, including the Koch-Rajbhongshis.

The Chief Minister urged the Development Councils to focus on education, skill development and on women welfare oriented schemes. “Focus on education, income generation through skill development and on women welfare schemes will lead us towards the path of progress and prosperity,” he added.

Gogoi said that his Government has been vigorously pursuing with the Central Government for granting Scheduled Tribe status to six ethnic communities, including the Koch-Rajbhongshis. “Our Government has been vigorously taking up the issue of granting of Scheduled Tribe status to six ethnic communities, including the Koch-Rajbhongshi. The Central Government has neither accepted nor rejected the proposals sent by the expert committees constituted by the State Government,” he added.

Addressing the gathering, President, Sodou Asom Koch-Rajbhongshi Sanmilani, Dr. Durlabh Chamua thanked the Chief Minister for his support and cooperation towards the construction of the new bhawan. The foundation stone of the bhawan built at a cost of Rs 1.40 crore was laid by Chief Minister, Gogoi on January 14, 2004.

Anjan Dutta, MLA also praised the Chief Minister for his slew of development initiatives that have led to the creation of the Koch-Rajbhongshi Development Council, a permanent office of the Koch-Rajbhongshis in Guwahati, institution of Bir Chilarai Award and a film after Bir Chilarai.   

Earlier, a memorandum enlisting various demands of the Koch-Rajbhongshi community was handed over to the Chief Minister on the occasion.