In an apparent bid to instill a sense of economic self-reliance and competence among the women folk in the State, Karimganj on Tuesday hosted a Mahila Samaroh (women congregation) at the Government Boys’ HS School playground at Karimganj where Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal vowed to take all possible steps for women empowerment.
Organized by the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission under Panchayat & Rural Development Department in collaboration with the Karimganj district administration, the Mahila Samaroh was convened to generate awareness amongst women in Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency about the opportunities unleashed by Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni in the State.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal besides reiterating the State Governments’ core commitment of women empowerment said the State Government is duty-bound to provide safety and security to all sections of the people of the State.
Dispelling the apprehensions emanated from the proposed publication of complete draft of the NRC, Chief Minister Sonowal said that State Government would provide safety and security to all Indians living in Assam. No one should be worried about the aftereffect of draft NRC publication as adequate measures have already been taken to bring all Indian citizens within the ambit of security of the State, he added.
Underscoring the development agenda of the Government, Sonowal urged the people belonging to the Barak and Brahmaputra Valley to work hand-in-hand for all-inclusive development of Assam. Stating the importance of Karimganj district as a core contributor to the promotion of trade and commerce of India with neighbouring country, the State CM said that Sutarkandi International Trade Centre at Karimganj would be developed as a state-of-the-art trade centre to boost bilateral trade and commerce.
Referring to the importance of women folk in the State, Chief Minister Sonowal appealed to all representatives of the SHGs at the Mahila Samaroh to make good use of the fund given by the Government. He said that empowerment of women would lead to empowerment to every family which would ultimately lead to making of a prosperous Assam.
He also called upon the youths of the State to make use of Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment Mission (SVAYEM) and also urged them to lend their hands to help the Government to continue its uncompromised tirade against corruption. He also asked them to work to strengthen the democratic values of the society.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while speaking on the occasion reiterated the State Government’s commitment to empower the women and said that financial grant given by the Government under Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni would increase up to Rs 5 lakh in contrast to the previous Government’s grant which was only Rs 5,000 in five years.
He also said that the State Government has taken a decision to enable the unmarried daughter of each govt. employee to enjoy family pension after the death of parents. He also said that the state govt. would launch old age pension scheme on October 2 wherein all the people above 60 years of age irrespective of their economic affiliation would be entitled to old age pension.
Sonowal also said that the State Government would start the construction activity of Karimganj Medical College and Hospital before March 2019. He also gave a snapshot of the development activities started by his ministry in the last two years for the development of the Barak Valley. He further informed that the State Government would release Rs 500 crore package for development of roads in the Barak Valley.
Forest & Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of State with independent charge for Panchayat & Rural Development Naba Kumar Doley and Chairman of Housefed Ranjeet Kumar Dass also spoke on the occasion and highlighted several welfare schemes undertaken by the Government in the State.
Synchronizing with the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal started the proceeding of handing over cheques as part of revolving fund of Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni to 3072 Self-Help Groups from Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sonowal also laid the foundation stone of flood light system for Karimganj DSA playground.
MLAs Kripanath Malla, Krishnendu Paul, Aziz Ahmed Khan, Suzam Uddin Laskar, Chairman AIDC Mission Ranjan Das, Deputy Mayor of GMC Bijulee Kalita Medhi and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.