Assam: AJP forms economic planning think-tank to propel state economy

GUWAHATI:

The regional political party, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has formed an economic planning and development advisory committee to strengthen the state’s economy.

Addressing newsmen at the party office here on Tuesday, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the newly constituted advisory panel would help to chart a roadmap to reinforce the local economy in the short and long run.

Experts belonging to Assam and hailing from the state but currently based overseas, are part of the advisory committee to be chaired by renowned economist, Jamini Bhagawati.

“Our aim is to make Assam self-reliant through proper utilisation of local resources. In the coming days, we are eyeing a firm foundation for the Assam economy,” Gogoi said.

Convenor of the committee, Adip Kumar Phukan said the regional political party has since its inception last year endeavoured to empower people of the state with both political and economic rights.

“Political rights are irrelevant without economic rights. Therefore, we are looking at garnering state funds by utilising the locally available resources. We have the Brahmaputra for water resources besides an abundance of minerals, forest resources and tea, which have to be extracted for making the state self-reliant,” Phukan, who is also the party’s vice-president, said.

AJP, a party floated by the AASU and AJYCP, had earlier announced that it would disburse stipends of Rs 5,000 each per month to unemployed individuals completing formal education if it came to power in the state this year.

The party also pledged to give Rs 10,000 each per month to all jobless, educated people who are skilled workers or belong to the economically backward or divyang categories.

(Edited by Laxmi Chyrmang)