To jumpstart development, work culture is the key: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 26: Before moving to deliver on the BJP’s poll promises, Assam’s new Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal wants to get the basics right. And it is the State’s work culture he has zeroed upon.

“We have to revive our work culture. This will be our thrust — from the secretariat to the block level,” Sonowal told The Sentinel in an interview.

According to him, if the State has to be put on the development path, the work culture of employees must be strong.

“Each and every one of us, from ministers to employees — all will have to strive hard to achieve our goals. After all, scheme implementation is in the hands of employees,” Sonowal said.

Asked about the encroachment on xatra lands, Sonowal said it is one of the priority concerns of his government.

“We are definitely worried and are giving the issue utmost importance. The xatras are the identity of our community, culture and heritage. We will have to uphold, preserve and protect them,” he said.

Referring to his visit to the State NRC coorditor’s office on the very first day he took over reins, the Chief Minister pointed out that his government is committed to make the State foreigner-free.

“We have been saying it all along. There will be no compromise on this issue. That is why we need the NRC. There should not be a single Bangladeshi tiol’s me in the NRC while not a single indigenous citizen’s me should be left out of it. Once the NRC is ready, the task to identify and deport illegal migrants will become much easier,” he said.

Sonowal said that work is already on to complete the Indo-Bangla fencing work in two years time.

“We are also working on completing the floodlighting works. Once the fencing is complete, influx from across the borders will automatically stop,” he said.

During the conversation, Sonowal also touched upon a major poll promise made by the BJP – to make the State corruption-free.

“Corruption has retarded development. People are exasperated at the state of affairs. We need to fix this. That is why on the first day itself, we ordered closure of all illegal check-gates. That was the first step. We need to do a lot more on that front,” he said.

Sonowal also informed that as a first step towards realizing the dream of a pollution-free Assam, the government will embark on a massive tree-plantation drive across the State shortly.