Several new proposals eying to develop sixth scheduled areas in Assam budget 2017-18

While presenting the state budget for the financial year 2017-18 in Assam assembly on Tuesday, state Finance minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said in his budget speech that, the state government has decided to redefine the role of Planning and Development
department to a more challenging and unifying role for the development and transformation of the State.

"The state government has planned to rechristen it as the Department for Development and Transformation of Assam (DDTA). The Assam government already renamed the State Planning Board as the State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) and the state government made adequate budget provision for the same so that SITA can play a very key role similar to NITI Aayog and guide the departments to take up innovative interventions. Further, SITA has already identified specific areas for conducting the studies in the first phase. They include the Revival of Tea Industry, Skill Development, Revival of Sick Industries and Sustainable Management of River Brahmaputra. The concerned administrative departments will be closely involved in this process," Sarma said.

The Assam Finance minister said that, earlier Plan funds were devolved to the Karbi-Anglong, Dima Hasao and BTC based on a formula that was suggested by the Phene Committee in the year 1987.

"Now the state government do not have Plan Funds. Hence, it is necessaryto re-examine the whole matter comprehensively. Accordingly, it has been decided to constitute a Commission consisting of a Retired Chief Secretary to consult all the councils including the Non-Sixth Schedule areas and recommend a new methodology for this purpose," Sarma said.

On the other hand, the Assam government also decided to rename the state Border Areas department as Border Protection and Development department and eying to develop the inter state and international bordering areas with Assam.

"The border areas are witnessing a spurt of developmental works started by the Centre and state government in these areas. In the Indo-Bhutan international border, Ministry of Home Affairs has approved to construct a road at a project outlay of Rs.1259 crores covering 313 KM from Ghamduar near Assam-West Bengal border in Kokrajhar district to Shikaridanga in Udalguri district. Ministry of Home Affairs has already released Rs.9.88 crores to PWD (NH) for preparation of the DPR. Another important achievement was that the long pending land dispute in Lathitila Dumabari has been resolved and border pillars erected. The state government is hopeful that will be able to not only protect the border but also ensure proper development of the border areas," the Assam Finance minister said.

On the other hand, two new medical colleges have been proposed in the state budget.

The new medical colleges to be set up at Nalbari and Tinsukia.

"In the next financial year, we will start construction for establishment of a medical college at Kokrajhar. The building works of Diphu Medical College has made good progress and to inaugurate the medical college in this year.

The budget also proposed to start a new Department of Sports Medicine in Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The state government aimed to make Assam as a hub of Nursing by producing 5000 nurses in a phased manner annually by expansion and upgradation of training colleges and schools in the government and private sector.

On the other hand, the Assam government has decided to establish three new College of Teachers Education in the districts of Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong and Majuli and to start construction works during the next fiscal.

The state government also decided to open a new University of Culture at Majuli with a view to promote Assamese art and culture, in other parts of country and abroad.

Meanwhile, the Assam government decided to set up six more new planetariums at Majuli, Kaliabor, Amingaon, Bongaigaon, Diphu and Silchar.

To develop the sixth scheduled areas, the state government has allocated  Rs 200 crore to BTC, Rs 50 crore to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Rs 20 crore to Dima Hasao district council as one time grant in 2017-18.

"Steps will be taken to make the Assam University campus set up in Diphu, more vibrant with adequate infrastructure and academically more efficient," Sarma said.

The state government also proposed to set up one more government college for science stream in the Karbi
Anglong Autonomous Council area and Rs 1 crore has been allocated in the budget.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)

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