In Rajiv Gandhi's me, Rs 1,000 cr institute & statues in all districts

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Aug 20: Unmindful of the severe fund crunch faced by the State, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced setting up of a Rs 1,000-crore skill development institute that would be med after Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Gogoi was speaking at a function organized by the State unit of Congress to mark the 71st birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister. Gogoi said besides the Rajiv Gandhi Employment and Skill Development Institute, the State government will also launch a project to erect statues of the Late Prime Minister in all districts. The Chief Minister, was however, not clear from where the funds would come. The budget has already been passed and it is not possible to accommodate such a huge amount in the budget now. In the last few months, Gogoi has been gunning against the Central government, accusing it of torpedoing implementation of populist schemes through massive fund cuts.

There was a controversy some time back after an RTI revelation that Nehru-Gandhi family mes were used for 450 difference schemes, projects and institutions. As per the RTI, 12 Central and 52 state schemes, 28 sports tourments and trophies, 19 stadiums, 5 airports and ports, 98 educatiol institutions, 51 awards, 15 fellowships, 15 tiol sanctuaries and parks, 39 hospitals and medical institutions, 37 institutions, chairs and festivals and 74 roads, buildings and places are med after three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had in November last year also launched a scheme to build rural roads – under the Indira Gandhi Adarsha Gramin Poki Path scheme – in all the 219 blocks. Not many are sure how many roads have been built under the scheme so far.

Another scheme was also launched last year to construct mini sports complexes – to be med after Rajiv Gandhi - in all the development blocks.