Take extra care of farmers, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal tells Tinsukia district administration

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday asked the Tinsukia district administration to take extra care of the farmers and to ensure proper marketing of their produce.

Sonowal, while reviewing the COVID scenario in Tinsukia district at Chapakhowa in Sadiya subdivision, asked the line departments like Food and Civil Supplies, Veterinary, Agriculture and Health to be cautious and careful in discharging their duties and said that the public should not suffer at any cost and no one should starve.

Sonowal said that the sudden outbreak of novel coronavirus has had its regressive impact on the agri-economy of the State. He also said that in spite of lockdown, though the farmers of the State had started their agricultural activities, there should be optimum utilization of the commercial feasibility of their products and therefore, asked the SDO(C), Sadiya to strengthen the subdivision’s framework to market the produce of the agriculturists. He also said that sandwiched between Arunachal Pradesh and Tinsukia district, the agricultural produce of Sadiya subdivision had good market potential and therefore, asked the SDO(C) to make a survey of the farmers associated with agriculture and other allied sectors and market the produce vigorously. He at the same time asked the administration to ensure that no vehicle passed through the subdivision without valid permit in view of the lockdown.

Considering the distance of the subdivision from the main land of the State, Chief Minister Sonowal asked the SDO (C) to ensure that no residents in Sadiya were deprived of emergency and essential services during lockdown period. Since COVID-19 outbreak had generated an extraordinary situation in the State, the rural economy should be revitalized to compensate the sluggish rate of urban economy, he said.

Expressing gratitude to the doctors and frontline staff and others involved in rendering essential services, Sonowal said doctors had exposed themselves to the highest risk of their lives to mitigate COVID. He also asked the Tinsukia administration to look into issues applicable to Sadiya and to submit proposals.

The meeting was attended by Bolin Chetia, Suren Phukan and Bimal Bora-legislators of Sadiya, Digboi and Tingkhong respectively, MP of Lakhimpur, Pradhan Barua, Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Pegu, Superintendent of Police Shiladitya Chetia, other high-level officials and heads of all departments. The Chief Minister called upon all to stand together to fight against the pandemic.

After the review meeting, few philanthropic organizations and individuals met the Chief Minister and handed over donation to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. They were Mayamora Sanskritik Samaj (Rs 1 lakh), Uttar Sadiya Samabay Samiti (Rs 20,000), Humijan Borgohain (Rs 1 lakh) and Paban Agarwal (Rs 10,000).

The Chief Minister addressed a press meet later and said that in the present context, the only medicine to contain COVID was adherence to strict guidelines. Social distancing and personal hygiene should not be compromised. He said that during lockdown period, the Government of Assam was taking all possible measures to reach out to the people by making all emergency and essential services available to the people. Moreover, all steps had been taken to render medical services to the people. He also reiterated that because of the timely and qualitative intervention of the government, patients suffering from COVID-19 in the State recovered in a record time. He also said that during lockdown period, the State Government had reached out to 58 lakh families and gave them rice along with financial aid.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also visited Charaideo district to assess COVID 19 preparedness. He asked the Deputy Commissioner and other functionaries of line departments to reorient themselves so that the target set to double the farmers’ income do not get derailed and the state can reach the goal by 2022.

Chairing a review meeting of the district’s preparedness to deal with COVID 19 outbreak, the Chief Minister asked DC Palash Ranjan Gharphalia to hold regular meetings with Agriculture and other line departments so that state can be on its track to achieve doubling of farmers’ income by 2022. He also observed that though during lockdown, agricultural activities were allowed to be performed, Sonowal asked the Deputy Commissioner to comply with lockdown protocols and observe social distancing.

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