Guwahati, 07 September (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced a series of key decisions and updates following the state Cabinet meeting, including the schedule for the next edition of ‘Khel Maharan’.

The state-level sporting event will be held from November 1 to January 23 across Assam. For the first time, an Under-12 category will be introduced to provide young children an opportunity to participate in the sporting event.

The Chief Minister said 300 talented child athletes will be provided stipends. Khel Maharan will be organised at the panchayat, constituency and district levels, while the state-level competitions will be held in Guwahati. Yoga has also been added to the list of disciplines this year.

Dr Sarma also announced that the government will take stringent action against middlemen operating in various state departments. Police will take steps to make government departments free from middlemen, while a dedicated portal will soon be launched where the names of such middlemen can be listed.

On the government’s target of providing two lakh jobs, the Chief Minister said steps were being taken to accelerate promotions for employees across departments. He announced that the promotion period for Secretariat computer operators will be reduced from four years to three years, with the aim of speeding up promotions for employees in different departments.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash