Government committed to development: Governor

A Correspondent

Silchar, April 20: The objective of every government is to bring exemplary changes by developing the country. But mere formulation of flagship schemes, plans, programmes and policies are not sufficient; these plans have to be implemented in a proper way. This was pointed out by Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi at a press meet in Silchar on Thursday evening. Presently The governor is on a 3-day tour of the Barak Valley. During the meet, Mukhi addressed issues related to the all round development of North-east, especially Assam, and also put forth the road map which has been made by the government to develop the entire region.

“I have come to know the ground reality of this place. Barak Valley is the 24th district which I am visiting. There are issues which need to be addressed at the earliest. The condition of the only toilet in Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School is not good. In Cachar College, which is one of the most prestigious colleges, some amount of cleanliness is needed. Moreover, there is a dearth of around 20 teachers. About 25 teachers are working on ad hoc basis. The 50-bedded SM Dev Civil Hospital is soon going to use 4 newly built toilets. But there is lack of running water. The resources are not being utilized to the fullest,” Jagdish Mukhi said.

The entire North-east has been cut off from the mainstream of the country. In this regard, Government of India is taking concrete steps to facilitate road, railway, air and water connectivity. “92 new flights under Udaan scheme have been already sanctioned. This will connect the North-east with other important places and cities of the country. More than 300 flights will be handled by LGB International Airport in Guwahati. Night landing at Kumbhirgram Airport, Silchar, will soon begin. 5 new trains have already started since the month of October 2017. Roughly 500 km of the railway tracks have been electrified. 500 km of the tracks have been doubled, 200 new tracks have been built and survey work for building 700 km new tracks has been completed,” the Governor said.

Jagdish Mukhi also said that 71 bridges in Myanmar would be built by December 31, 2019. This will strengthen the bond between India and Myanmar. “Water connectivity is also an important aspect. Dredging of river is going on in full swing. Digital connectivity will be 10 times more efficient once we start getting network from Cox Bazaar, Bangladesh. The agreement has already been done. I have also taken up the issue of Cachar Paper Mill very seriously. The present government is bent upon developing the  North-east,” he added.

The recent rape and sexual assaults on minor girls have rocked the nation. Mukhi said, “Rape should not be politicalized at any cost. Stringent laws should be made to change the situation. Capital punishment is a must in such cases. However, it has been seen that in about 90% rape cases, the rapists are relatives, close family members and acquaintances of the victims. The mentality of the entire men folk to commit such heinous crimes is the root cause. A large scale campaign should be launched so that it brings about a sea change in their mentality and also the way they see women”.

The fate of Hindu Bengalis of Assam hangs in the balance. The ongoing NRC verification process is giving people sleepless nights. Mukhi said, “No true citizen of the country will be left out from the list and no foreigner or illegal individual will be included in it. There is nothing to fear about NRC. The process is being done under the direct supervision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”