Drugs worth Rs 900 crore seized since May, 2021: CM Himanta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the state government's war on drugs is yielding good results, which is underscored by the seizure of drugs worth Rs 900 crore in Assam since May, 2021.

Addressing a programme in the city on Friday where President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated several projects, Sarma informed that 6,800 people were also arrested in connection with the seized drugs.

He informed that the Assam Police seized a huge quantity of drugs worth Rs 15 crore in the Karbi Anglong district on August 2 last during a joint operation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while on July 15 last the police seized a huge quantity of contraband drugs worth Rs 3 crore from a drug peddler in the Karimganj district.

Sarma termed today's ceremony as a momentous occasion in Assam's journey towards inclusive growth and development. Expressing gratitude towards the President for visiting the state despite an extremely busy official schedule, the Chief Minister termed her journey from a remote village in Odisha to the highest office in the country as a source of inspiration and motivation for millions. The Chief Minister added that President Murmu, representing the tribal society of India, symbolizes selfless services towards the betterment of the society and the nation.

Speaking on the immense contribution of the members of the tea tribes community towards the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the state, Sarma gave a brief outline on the history of British-era migration from regions such as present-day Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, etc. The Chief Minister termed the tea tribes community as an integral part of the state's identity and lauded them for enriching the Assamese cultural milieu through their assimilation into the fold of the greater Assamese society. Stressing on the need for their socio-economic uplift, the Chief Minister spoke on the series of measures the state government has taken in this regard. The 100 new model high schools in tea garden areas would contribute immensely towards starting an educational revolution among the tea tribes community's children. This would check the high drop-out rate among the tea tribe community children, he added.

A total of 27 seats in the nine medical colleges of the state has been reserved for candidates belonging to the tea tribes community, the Chief Minister said, adding that there are plans in place for a high school for every four tea gardens and a graduation college for every 15 tea gardens.

Regarding the launch of the 3,000 new model Anganwadi centres at a total cost of Rs 750 crore, Sarma stated that they would act as a catalyst in ensuring mental and physical growth and well-being of the state's children. In addition to the 1,000 such centres that are already functional and the 3,000 launched today, in the coming years another 2,000 such centres would be dedicated at the service of the public, Sarma said. The aim is to have 60,000 such model Anganwadi centres, each built at a cost of Rs 25 lakh, he added.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision for a transformed North-East, the Chief Minister exuded confidence the projects launched today under various Central ministries would herald a new dawn of prosperity and growth in the region. The inauguration of the two-lane Silchar-Badarpur stretch on National Highway-53 and the four-lane Gohpur-Holongi stretch of National Highway-52A and the foundation stone laying Package -1 and package -2 of the Dibrugarh-Ledo stretch along National Highway-37 today is a step in achieving the cherished dreams of the Prime Minister for the North-East, he added. These and the Indian Oil Corporation's rail-fed Petroleum Storage Depot at Moinarbond would prove decisive in the region's overall growth, Sarma said.

The Chief Minister also extended a warm invitation to President Murmu to visit the state once again for a first-hand experience of the majestic beauty of the Kaziranga National Park and the tea gardens.

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