Sonowal launches Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela 2017-18

Under the newly launched scheme, steps have been taken to extend the fruits of demonetization to the people belonging to tea community who have already opened their bank accounts during the period of demonetization by crediting an amount of Rs 2500 in each of their accounts.

Further, another Rs 2500 would be credited to the accounts which are uninterruptedly operated for six months from now in the next phase.

It may be noted that during demonetization period, altogether 6,58,250 tea garden workers opened their bank accounts and the state government would incur an expenditure of Rs 182 crore for giving financial incentives to all the account holders belonging to the community and similar amount would be released after six months.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Sonowal termed the day as ‘historic’ for the state.

“The tea garden community constitute an important segment of the demography of Assam and they have been contributing selflessly to the promotion of state’s economy. Our government is working to bring them under the ambit of govt’s broad spectrum of financial inclusion,” Sonowal said.

Underscoring the contribution of the tea community in strengthening the socio-economic fabric of the state, Sonowal acknowledged the problems faced by the community since ages.

“It has been one of the commitments of our government to solve all the problems faced by the people belonging to tea community. If they lack behind, the overall development of the state would suffer. Our government would take all possible steps for ameliorating their condition and ensuring their development,” the Assam CM assured.

Stating that the people belonging to tea community possess extraordinary talent, the Assam CM said that the state government is working resolutely for providing more exposure to them for their development.

He further informed that the government would set up Skill Development Centres in all the tea gardens of the state in a bid to skilling the youth of the community and providing them better job opportunities. Moreover, for educational improvements of the students of the community, Sonowal announced setting up of ME and High Schools in the tea garden areas.

Expressing his gratitude to all sections of the people of Assam for extending unconditional cooperation for successful publication of part draft NRC, Sonowal urged upon the people of the state to live in harmony and work in unison for giving a new impetus to development in Assam.

Minister of Finance, Health and Education Himanta Biswa Sarma in his speech thanked the people of the tea community for responding to the govt’s request for opening the record number of bank accounts during the demonetization period.

He also mentioned that all the account holders would now be entitled to all facilities of the govt. like PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and the like in order to bring them into govt’s agenda priorities.

Further as an extension to state government’s gesture of helping the people of the tea community, a scheme is on the pipeline wherein a pregnant woman belonging to the tea community would be given Rs 12,000 to look after her nutritional needs and support the family before three months of her delivery without even going to work, Sarma mentioned.

He also informed that during 2018, state govt. would set up another 100 High Schools in the tea garden areas and adequate number of teachers would also be appointed.

He further announced that the government would earmark five percent of its development fund for improvement of roads and other facilities in the tea garden areas.

“The state government would also set up 700 community halls in all the tea gardens of the state,” Sarma said.

Minister of state for Welfare of Tea Tribes Pallav Lochan Das while speaking on the occasion gave a brief overview of all the schemes that the state govt. has been implementing for the welfare of the tea community.

MPs Pradan Baruah and Rameswar Teli, MLAs Binod Hazarika and Sanjay Kishan, former union minister and president of ACMS Paban Singh Ghatowar also spoke on the occasion.

MLAs Chakra Gogoi, Durga Bhumij, Bimal Bora, Naren Sonowal, Teros Gowala, Ashok Singhal, Suren Phukan and Bhaskar Sarma, Deputy Commissioner Oinam Charan Singh were also present among others on the occasion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)