Fince Minister shares dream with BARD

GUWAHATI, July 5: State Fince Himanta Biswa Sarma visited BARD’s Assam regiol office on July 4 and laid emphasis on a ‘Mega Mission’ for holistic development of Assam villages with 7-8 sub-missions like fishery, bamboo, dairy, khadi etc., under the aegis of the ‘Samagra Gram Vikash Yoja’.

According to a press release, Sarma acknowledged BARD’s vast contribution to rural Assam and reinforced the State Government’s partnership with it. He shared his views regarding State’s plans for the next five years to double economic growth.  A variety of schemes were discussed in detail to catapult Assam in the top five States of the country, the unit being ‘the village’, the release said.  According to Sarman, every scheme should be planned and implemented with the motto “SMILE TO LAST MILE”.

Fince Commissioner & Secretary Ravi Kota, along with other State government officials, were present at the meeting.

The minister was felicitated warmly by BARD Chief General Mager Rajashree K Baruah, who was elevated to the post on July 1, 2016, and others. In her welcome address, Baruah briefed the key areas of BARD’s interventions for sustaible and equitable growth in agriculture aiming at rural prosperity in the state. A presentation was made on BARD’s thrust areas such as rural-infra, irrigation, water harvesting, village knowledge centres, agri-Infra, increasing fish production, bamboo farming,  doubling of farmers’ income by 2022, role of BCONS (a wholly-owned subsidiary consultancy wing of BARD) and other promotiol and developmental initiatives.

The State Fince Minister applauded the efforts made by BARD and said that a collaborative action plan should be evolved to achieve the goal of returns out of investments which would be made during the coming years, the release added.