Guwahati, 13 November (HS): The BJP Assam Pradesh on Friday highlighted a series of major development initiatives undertaken by the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government during the first six months of its second term, claiming that infrastructure development, industrial investment, education, healthcare, employment generation and protection of indigenous people's interests remain the government's key priorities.

In a press statement, BJP spokesperson Jayanta Kumar Goswami said the government had taken several significant decisions to build a self-reliant and prosperous Assam. These include advancing the proposal to develop Dibrugarh as the state's second capital with a special allocation of ₹500 crore over five years, developing a satellite city and airport city near Guwahati, and targeting ₹50,000 crore investment in major infrastructure projects over the next five years.

He also highlighted proposed industrial investments of ₹10,200 crore by Dalmia Bharat Green Vision and ₹11,000 crore by JK Lakshmi Cement, along with initiatives to strengthen agriculture, fisheries and rural infrastructure.

In the healthcare sector, the government has approved ₹600 crore for a Proton Beam Therapy Centre at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and ₹200 crore to continue healthcare services under the Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Asom scheme covering over 40 lakh families.

Educational initiatives include ₹108.81 crore for free admission of over 1.5 lakh undergraduate first-year students and ₹109.38 crore for bicycle distribution among Class IX students. Employment-oriented programmes and youth skill development have also received attention.

Goswami further highlighted measures concerning indigenous land rights, including approval of 154 land-related proposals across 13 districts and reservation of 987 bighas of land at Dhekiajuli for landless SC and ST families.

Other initiatives include additional assistance of ₹200 per quintal to paddy farmers, a ₹796.88-crore SWIFT project for fisheries and wetlands, release of ₹200 crore for development in BTC areas and welfare measures benefiting over 70 lakh families.

The BJP spokesperson said development and protection of indigenous identity, culture, land rights and security were complementary priorities of the government. He expressed confidence that the initiatives would strengthen Assam's economy and establish the state as a major industrial and self-reliant destination.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash