PM Modi stresses on need to strengthen double-engine development in Assam
GUWAHATI:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there is a need to strengthen the ‘double engine’ development in Assam and pointed out that the northeastern state has everything it needs to give the people a better life.
Addressing a public gathering at Dhemaji in poll-bound Assam on Monday, Modi assured the people of taking Assam to new heights.
“When I last came here, I (had said) that the Northeast will become the new hotspot of India’s growth engine. Now it is becoming (a) reality,” Modi said.
“Those who ruled here before gave the impression that it is disturbing and time-consuming to travel from Delhi to the Northeast because of the distance. But we are very close. That’s why we keep coming,” Modi said.
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We may note that Monday marks the Prime Minister’s third visit to Assam within two months.
“I’m delighted every time I come here. The love and affection of the people here have always inspired me to do something for Assam and the Northeast,” he said.
He also stated that the Centre and the state are working in a “balanced development model” for Assam.
“We are focusing on infra development for Assam,” he said.
Alleging the previous government of treating the North Bank of Brahmaputra in a “step-motherly” way, Modi said that the NDA government at the Centre and the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government have done away with the step-motherly attitude.
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“We fast-tracked the completion of the Bogibeel bridge; we brought broad-gauge to North Bank area, and we are bringing four-lane national highways to this region,” he said.
Besides this, he said that projects worth over Rs. 3,000 crore will be sanctioned for developing the energy and education infrastructure in Assam and the Northeast.
“After our government came to power, we had stressed on developing the infrastructure of Assam. The previous government had ignored the people of Assam,” Modi said.
“Before 2014, only 55 out of 100 families had LPG gas connections. In Assam, despite having refineries, only 40 families had LPG connection,” he said.
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“Through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Scheme, this scenario has changed. Now, almost 100 per cent of households in Assam have gas connections,” he said, adding that over one crore women would be included under the scheme in the new budget.
“If your Niti (intention) is correct, your Niyat (character) is clear, and your Niyati (destiny) changes,” he said.
Turning to education, Modi said that the Assam government would soon implement the new education policy, and the people who would benefit will be from the indigenous community, including tea garden workers and others.
He stated that, at present, Assam has over 20 engineering colleges, and that the government plans to set up three more colleges in the state.
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“When medical and technical education will be imparted in local vernacular languages, every child from the poorest of poor will get admission in (these) colleges,” he said.
Talking about agriculture, Modi said that with the blessing of the Brahmaputra, the land would enable the government to strengthen the farmers of the area and increase their income.
“We want to take your produce to the international market that’s why the farm law reforms have been taken. We are giving the farmers Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), good seeds, soil health cards, etc.,” he said.
However, the Prime Minister was silent on issues concerning the farmers’ protests and fuel price hike.
(Edited by Andre Kongri)
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