'State budget to focus on health, education'

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 20: The full-fledged State budget for the fincial year 2016-17, which will be presented in the assembly on July 26, will mainly put thrust on development of health and education sectors in the State. This was informed by Parliamentary Affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in reply to cut motion moved by the Opposition in the third day of the Assembly budget session that began on July 18.

Patowary said the main thrust areas in the budget have been pointed out by Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, which would also be people-oriented. The Opposition moved the cut motion on the supplementary demands for grants for 2016-17.   

The Parliamentary Affairs minister said Chief Minister Sonowal has made it clear that the State budget must fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people. Patowary said the Chief Minister further instructed that this State budget must include initiatives which would usher in ‘parivartan’ in different sectors.

Besides putting thrust on education and health sectors, priorities would be given to other areas too, which will be reflected in the budget, said Patowary. State Fince minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will table the budget in the assembly on July 26, which will be the first full-fledged budget of the Sarbanda Sonowal-led BJP government in the State.

During the cut motion, other issues related to health sector were discussed in the House. Patowary, in the absence of Health minister Sarma, said the State government would give emphasis on the immunisation of children in the coming days. “If immune system in a child is strong, he or she can live a healthy life in later years,” added Patowary.

He further said the government would take all possible measures to strengthen healthcare provided by civil hospitals across the State. Patowary said many civil hospitals in the State are facing shortage of medicos, especially surgeons, and it is a big problem that needs to be solved. He went on the explain that many civil hospitals in the State have surgeons but no aesthetists, which makes the whole healthcare system meaningless.

During the course of the discussion, Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi suggested to the State government that a rule should be introduced so that MBBS-passed doctors are made to serve in rural areas for a period of five years instead of present one year. The Parliamentary Affairs minister agreed to Kurmi’s suggestion ‘in principle’. Kurmi also suggested that country-made liquor should be banned immediately by the State government.

In Wednesday’s discussion session, ruling and opposition parties’ members like ndita Das, Tapan Kr Gogoi, Rabiram rzary, Maheswar Boro, Satyabrata Kalita, Gurujyoti Das, Rajdeep Goala, Siladitya Deb, Sanjoy Kishan, Kamalakhya Dey Purakayastha and many others took part.