PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of two medical colleges and inaugurates Asom Mala scheme

The medical college to be set up at Biswanath for a total cost of Rs. 565 crore and the Charaideo Medical College to be built with an expenditure of Rs. 557 crore would greatly enhance the medical facilities in the state while annually 200 new MBBS Doctors would pass out from them.

On the other hand, through the Asom Mala scheme road infrastructure in the state would be substantially improved.          

Addressing a huge gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that due to the love and affection of the people of Assam he keeps coming back to the state and he appreciated Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led state government for developing Assam at a rapid pace for which reason he has been able to take part in launching of new schemes and programmes in the state.

He also paid tributes to the martyrs from Dhekiajuli who lost their lives during the Quite India Movement in 1942 against the British ruleand said that the sacrifices of the martyrs still keep inspiring the people of the country.          

Lamenting that the North East region of the country remained neglected for a long period of time, Modi said that the region is now moving on the path of rapid development and due to the efforts of the both central and state governments six new medical colleges have been set up in Assam. The two new medical colleges at Biswanath and Charaideo would greatly enhance the public health infrastructure of Assam while 1600 new MBBS Doctors would pass out every year from these medical colleges.

The Prime Ministeralso said one new medical and technical college would be set up in Assam which would impart education in local languages of the state.          

Saying that the construction work of AIIMS at Changsari in Kamrup has been going on at a fast pace and the first batch of MBBS has already started in the institute.

“Once completed the AIIMS would become a premier institute of medical sciences not only in Assam but in the entire NE Region,” Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi also highlighted central and state governments schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Atal Amrit Abhiyan etc. which has enabled the weaker sections of the society to access quality healthcare and he also reflected on the success of the country in the fight against Coronavirus.

He expressed optimism that the people of Assam and the country would defeat all anti India conspiracies of vested interests groups as Assam is moving on the path of peace, prosperity and development alongwith the rest of the country.

Speaking at the programme, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Assam and said that the state government has been able to fulfil all its promises due to the constant support and cooperation of the Prime Minister.

“During the 74 years period after independence Prime Minister Modi was the first Prime Minister who gave importance to Assam at national level and due to the relentless efforts of the Prime Minister Assam has been able to curve out a separate identity for itself,” Sonowal said.

The Assam Chief Minister also remarked due to increased allocation to Assam in the Union Budget Assam has been able to make steady progress in the last few years and this year’s Union Budget also allocation of Rs. 1000 crore for the women and children of tea garden areas has reflected the goodwill of the central government towards Assam.

Highlighting steps like providing Rs. 300 crore for development of Kamakhya Temple, Rs. 1097 crore for infrastructure development in Majuli, Rs. 34,000 crore for building 1300 km of roads in 36 districts by the central government, Sonowal said that due to Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership peace has returned to Assam as members of several militant organizations have surrendered arms and come back to the mainstream.

He also said that Prime Minister Modi has emerged as a true world leader and he assured that the people of Assam would extend full cooperation towards achievement of Prime Minister’s vision of Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat.

Minister of Finance, Health, PWD etc. Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma also delivered his speech at the programme and remembered how Prime Minister Modi stood strongly by the side of Assam’s people during COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that Prime Minister Modi has set an example before the whole world by providing COVID-19 vaccine to other countries as he has also provided 6 lakh vaccines to Assam.

“Due to the Prime Minister’s constant support Assam is developing in all sectors and the state has emerged as one of the top five states in the country,” Sarma said.

Dr. Sarma informed that the Prime Minister has provided Rs. 180 crore for the construction of each new medical colleges in the state and from July onwards people from the state would not need to go to places like Delhi for medical treatment as AIIMS at Changsari would become operational.

He also informed that the Rs. 8,000 crore Asom Mala Scheme inaugurated today by the Prime Minister would greatly improve the road infrastructure system in the state and two roads under the scheme would also be built at Dhekiajuli and Borsala Constituencies.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing RameswarTeli, Ministers in Assam Government Ranjit Dutta, Atul Bora, KeshabMahanta, Naba Kumar Doley, Pijush Hazarika,Rajyasabha MP KamakhyaPradadTasa, Loksabha MPs PallabLochan Das, Queen Oja, Tapan Kumar Gogoi, DilipSaikia,CEM of BTC Pramod Bodo,Housefed Chairman Ranjeet Kumar Das, several MLAsand many other dignitaries were present in today’s programme.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of setting up a medical and a technical college for teaching in local languages in the state and said that this step would greatly help in preserving the language, culture and indigenous people’s control over Assam.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)