Negative mindset and lack of work culture hinders development: CM Himanta

YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONCLAVE

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam lacked a society that could suggest innovative ideas to the government for economic uplift. "This is quite unfortunate," he rued.

Addressing the youth leadership conclave at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra today, the Chief Minister said, "For years, a section of people has instilled a mindset that the Centre is exploiting our resources and depriving Assam of its dues. No one can deprive an able person. In this age of competition, we have to make stride through competition."

The Chief Minister tried to convey to the youth how the different circumstances prevailing for decades put Assam behind in the development race. He said: "Since 1978, agitations, protests, insurgency etc., have been ravaging Assam rigorously. For the successive governments, the primary responsibility was to tackle all such upheavals, not development. Shunning protests, we need to be self-reliant. Our focus should be on how far we can take Assam ahead in the coming 25 years.

"A negative mindset and lack of work culture are some of the bottlenecks for development. People want to depend on the government for everything without doing anything on their own. Earlier, our youths did cultivate lands. Now youths hanker after government jobs only. The situation has come to such a pass that 100s of goods-laden trucks come to the state daily. It is the result of the people of the state not becoming self-reliant. During the Assam Agitation, a section of youths started their own business with the slogan – self-reliance. That trend lost its steam.

"The Centre is doing everything to take Assam and the entire Northeast forward. We need to extend all help to the government in this effort.

"Infiltration leading to population boom is one of the reasons behind Assam lagging economically from rest of the country. The economic condition of East Pakistan was pathetic before 1971. That led to rampant infiltration into Assam for livelihood in the run-up to the formation of Bangladesh. The unhindered birth rate of the immigrants at that time in Assam raised the state's population beyond its capacity. This 'homegrown population' overburdened the state's economic sustainability, leading to the collapse of the state economy slowly and certainly.

"I urge the young generation to develop a positive mindset and build a competitive spirit to lead us to a new Assam of peace and development."

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