CM enters Dispur office, administers Swacch Bharat pledge to officials

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 2: Eight days after he was sworn in as Chief Minister, Sarbanda Sonowal on Thursday moved into his office chamber at the Assam Secretariat.

Sonowal, accompanied by gayan-bayan, hari dhwani and cultural troupes besides MLAs and cabinet ministers, walked from the gate of the secretariat to the newly-renovated office on the first floor of CM’s Block.

Before entering his office, Sonowal administered the pledge of Swacch Bharat Pakhwada of Government of India to the officers and staff of Assam Secretariat.

Invoking Father of the tion Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a “clean and developed” India, Sonowal administered the pledge to the officers and staff of the Secretariat to make India clean.

“Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of an India which was not only free but also clean and developed. Mahatma Gandhi secured freedom for Mother India. It is now our duty to serve Mother India by keeping the country neat and clean,” said the first lines of the pledge.

The pledge further seeks the promise from every individual to remain committed to cleanliness and devote time towards this end.

“I will devote 100 hours per year — that is two hours per week — to voluntary work for cleanliness. I will neither litter nor let others litter.

“I will initiate the quest for cleanliness with myself, my family, my locality, my village and my workplace. I believe that the countries of the world that appear clean are so because their citizens don’t indulge in littering nor do they allow it to happen. With this firm belief, I will propagate the message of Swachh Bharat Mission in villages and towns,” reads the pledge.

It also exhorts all to encourage 100 other persons to take this pledge and endeavour to make them devote their 100 hours for cleanliness.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia and heads of all departments and staff of the Secretariat were present on the occasion.

Later, the Chief Minister entered his office chamber for the first time after assuming charge. Several of his ministerial colleagues, MLAs and senior officials present on the occasion extended their greetings and best wishes to Sonowal in all his future endeavors. The Chief Minister, while exchanging pleasantries with them, said their warm wishes would stand him in good stead in the days ahead.

Speaking to jourlists later, Sonowal said that it is due to the blessings of the people of Assam that he is gracing the chair “I will strive hard to live up to the trust and expectations of the people,” he said.

Asked about his priorities, he said, “Each and every problem of the State is important. Assam’s development, security and reviving the dignity of the Assamese will be our objective.”

Till the filing of the report, Sonowal was reviewing the works of the Forest department at his office chamber.

Meanwhile, ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta also moved into their offices at the secretariat today after performing vedic rituals.

Minister Keshab Mahanta said he has issued directions for appointment of noted space scientist Jatindrath Goswami as Advisor to the State’s Science &Technology department.