The Assam Government distributed a financial grant of Rs 47 crore
to 1,182 surrendered cadres of five Adivasi militant groups during a programme
held in Guwahati on Sunday.
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed fixed
deposit certificates of Rs 4 lakh each to 1,182 surrendered cadres of five
Adivasi militant groups.
Speaking at the event held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra
International Auditorium, CM Himanta termed today’s distribution of financial
grants to the former rebels a historic moment for the overall uplift of the
Adivasi communities of the State.
The CM said, “Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision for Bharat,
7,229 insurgents in Assam have returned to the mainstream since May 2021. Our
government has invested Rs 305 crore in their rehabilitation. Today, we
distributed benefits worth Rs 47 crore to 1,181 surrendered cadres belonging to
the Adivasi groups.”
CM Himanta exuded confidence the former rebels would achieve
self-reliance by making the best use of the financial grants being provided to
them.
He further said, “The government will also facilitate
skill-training of the former rebels through agencies such as the State
Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) if approached to do so.”
The Chief Minister also appealed to the former rebels to apply for
schemes of the Government of Assam such as Mukhya Mantri Atmanirbhar Asom
Abhiyaan, to name a few.”
Dr Sarma assured them of the government’s sincerity in the
implementation of all the points of the Adivasi peace agreement.
The CM further said, “The State Government has been taking steps to
fulfil the hopes and aspirations of various communities and that the conclusion
of peace treaties with several ethnic rebel groups manifests that very
commitment of the current dispensation.”
He said peace talks with organizations such as the pro-talks
faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are also going in the
right direction. Stating that with the return of normalcy, many measures such
as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) are now being confined to just
four districts of upper Assam, CM Sarma expressed hope such Acts would be
repealed altogether from Assam, in days to come.
Despite a considerable reduction in the deployment of armed forces
personnel in the past 2-3 years, there has been no incidence of organized violence
in the State, the CM said, adding that members of civil society organizations,
and student groups, deserve praise for their roles in bringing about this
perceptible change in the State.
He said, “Assam has left behind its troubled past and is now taking
the road towards unprecedented growth and progress. With the State now
attaining a strong economic base, the government is now focusing on fulfilling
the genuine hopes and aspirations of the downtrodden sections of the society.
Increases in the daily wages of tea garden labourers of the State is a step in
that direction.”
CM Sarma also spoke about the number of measures the current State Government
has been taking with the aim of uplifting the Adivasi and tea tribe communities
of the State.
The decision to provide reservations to members of tea tribe
communities in government job vacancies, and reserving seats in medical
colleges, among others, would go a long in ensuring the Adivasi communities are
able to walk hand-in-hand with others in days to come.
Dr Sarma added an amount of Rs 200 crores would be approved for the
improvement of road infrastructure in the localities inside tea estates
inhabited by tea garden labourers.
“Steps are being taken to provide children of tea tribe communities
with the best education available. The scholarship amount of Rs 25,000 each to
beneficiaries under the Swahid Dayal Das Panika Swaniyojan Achoni shall be
increased to Rs 50,000,” the CM added.
Dr Sarma appealed to the former rebels to play a constructive role
in society by building themselves as role models and taking the lead in
fighting prevalent social evils such as alcoholism and the practice of child
marriages.
ANI
