Page 3 - Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam to book men under POCSO Act for marrying girls aged less than 14

Sarma also said that police have been ordered to launch a state-wide crackdown against child marriage

Men marrying girls below 14 to be booked under POCSO Act: Assam CM

The Assam Cabinet on Monday decided to book men who marry girls below 14 years in the state under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Assam has a high rate of maternal and infant mortality and the primary cause is child marriage. The state has an average of 31 per cent marriages in the prohibited age, Sarma said at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting. Men marrying girls in the age group of 14-18, will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and necessary steps will be taken against them under this law, the chief minister said. The police have been directed to conduct a massive crackdown against child marriage across the state, he said. A Child Protection Officer will be appointed in every village and it will be the duty of the Gram Panchayat Secretary to file a complaint against any child marriage taking place in their area, Sarma said.

Northeast getting transformed through mega transportation projects: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that Northeast is witnessing "transformation through transportation" and mega projects regularly inaugurated in the region bear testimony to it. He said that had development work in the Northeast taken place at the current pace since Independence, the region would have already been on the growth trajectory. Sarma was speaking at a programme at Pandu terminal in Guwahati, which was attended virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from New Delhi. During the function, Modi inaugurated a Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati, which will offer better job opportunities to local youths. He also laid the foundation stone for a ship-repairing facility in Guwahati, which will serve as an alternative to a similar facility in Kolkata, saving fuel and manpower costs for vessel owners and boosting local ancillary industries, besides generating employment. The foundation stone for an elevated road connecting Pandu terminal to Nati

Firms in Assam with over 4 employees asked to install CCTV cameras

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday instructed all business establishments having more than four employees to install CCTV cameras, an official statement said

Assam CM launches Rs 1,776-crore infrastructure projects in Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid foundation stone of seven infrastructure projects, including a new Raj Bhavan and Guwahati Police Commissioner's office, worth Rs 1,776 crore in the state capital. Sarma started with the foundation stone laying for a new Raj Bhavan at Kharghuli in presence of Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi. "To be built for Rs 41.32 crore in 18 months, the new Raj Bhavan will be one of most beautiful governor houses in the country," the chief minister tweeted after the ceremony. He also laid the foundation stone for construction of the new Police Commissionerate at Khanapara, Guwahati. "To be completed in 24 months, the Rs 95-crore building will house all departments and branches working under Commissioner of Police, Guwahati and boost police administration in the city," he said. The government will further spend Rs 544.44 crore for redevelopment of Guwahati Police Reserve Campus, Sarma said. "It will also include residential quarters for po

No aid needed from AIUDF, AAMSU to re-design district boundaries: Assam CM

Many political parties and organizations criticized the Assam government for its decision ahead of the Election Commission of India's delimitation process in the state

Assam CM lays foundation stone for Rs 50-cr Jongal Balahu tourist centre

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a tourist centre, named after Tiwa king Jongal Balahu, at an expenditure of Rs 50 crore in Nagaon district. Addressing a public meeting at Raha, Sarma lauded efforts of the Tiwa community for contributing immensely towards enriching Assam's cultural mosaic. After the foundation stone laying ceremony of the centre at Jongal Balahu Rampart, he said the facility will help throw light on the community's role in building an inclusive society. Earlier, the chief minister visited the historic Jongal Balahu Garh at Raha and offered floral tributes to great Tiwa king Jongal Balahu. "The brave warrior, who valiantly fought to safeguard his land and people, will always remain an inspiration for the people of Assam," Sarma said. In recognition of the contribution of the great warrior and the Tiwa community as a whole, the archaeological site at Raha will be transformed into Jongal Balahu ...

Assam on growth trajectory, people must pressure ULFA(I) chief: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Sunday claimed that the state is on growth trajectory and asked the people of Assam to exert "moral pressure" on proscribed ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua to give up his sovereignty demand. Sarma interacting with media persons here on New Year's day said criteria other than population should be considered for future delimitation exercises and the state police is keeping a strict eye on the involvement of Islamic clerics in 'jihadi' activities. The chief minister said Assam is on the growth trajectory after achieving considerable financial stability during 2022 and for the first time did not ddepend on the Centre for paying its employees' salaries. This has been possible due to increased oil royalty, excise, transport and GST collections. "There has been an increase in tax collection and this symbolises vibrancy in the economy. This has been possible due to the cooperation by the people and different organisations, leading to a new growth ...

2022 saw end of tribal insurgency in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

The year 2022 saw the end of the tribal insurgency in Assam, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday

Protests in Assam against decision to merge 4 districts with existing ones

Protests erupted in Assam after the state cabinet approved the decision to merge four new districts with the existing undivided ones

Assam merges 4 districts with 4 others, changes jurisdiction of villages

The Assam government on Saturday decided to merge four districts with four others and changed the administrative jurisdiction of a few villages, a day before the Election Commission's freeze on redrawing administrative units comes into effect. Announcing this at a press conference here after a meeting of the state cabinet, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decisions have been taken with a heavy heart keeping in mind the interests of Assam, its society and administrative exigencies. He added it was only "temporary" and did not disclose the reason behind the decision. While Biswanath district will be merged with Sonitpur, Hojai will be merged with Nagaon, Bajali will be merged with Barpeta and Tamulpur will be merged with Baksa, he said. The decisions had to be taken at the cabinet meeting on Saturday as the Election Commission has imposed a ban on creating new administrative units in Assam from January 1, 2023 as the poll panel will undertake the delimitation exercise in th

Assam CM Himanta launches projects worth over Rs 973 cr in Dibrugarh

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday laid the foundation stones and inaugurated projects worth Rs 973.38 crore for Dibrugarh district. The CM, attending the last programme of the first phase of 'Bikakhor Babe Eta Pokhek' (a fortnight for development initiatives) at Tingkhong in the district, urged people to take part in an economic revolution to give a fillip to the state's overall development. Assam had "witnessed many agitations, 'dharnas' and 'hartals' over the years but it is the time to concentrate on rejuvenating the intellectual, cultural and developmental landscape" of the state, he said. Outlining plans for the development of Dibrugarh, the CM announced that strengthening and improvement of the river bank of Buridihing at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore will be taken up. The government plans to set up a zoo at Tingkhong in the district and the Ahom ritual of offering obeisance to Me-Dam-Me-Phi will be celebrated at historic Tipam, Sarma said. As part of

A useful man to know

The Chief Minister of Assam might be in the BJP today. But he has skills he learnt at the feet of top Congress leaders like Tarun Gogoi, with whom he worked for many years

China's Covid vaccines very weak, India need not worry, says Assam CM

Amid a spike in Covid cases in China and other countries, the Assam CM said people should not fear Covid anymore in India

Amit Shah begins two-day visit to Meghalaya, to attend celebrations at NEC

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday began his two-day visit to Meghalaya, where he is scheduled to attend the golden jubilee celebration of the North East Council (NEC). Shah arrived at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati, where he was received by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He then left for Shillong by road to attend the event on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and lawmakers from the Northeast are also scheduled to take part in it. "Honoured to have received Adarniya Union HM Shri @AmitShah ji at LGBI Airport, Guwahati. Hon HM's presence is always inspiring and an encouragement for us to work with renewed vigour for holistic growth of Assam and the North East," Sarma tweeted.

Sarma pitches for UCC, even as Muslim intellectuals warn of social discord

Sarma insisted that a Muslim man marrying more than one woman was not his problem, but of Muslim mothers and sisters

Assam CM unveils, lays foundation stones of multiple projects in Lakhimpur

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various projects worth over Rs 1,031 crore in Lakhimpur district. He also launched a special immunisation drive for children and pregnant women during his visit to the northern district. "As part of our 'A Fortnight for Development' initiative, inaugurated 13 and laid foundation stones for 13 projects worth ?1,031.68 cr in Lakhimpur district," Sarma wrote on Twitter. Several road projects and an RCC (reinforced cement concrete) bridge over Kakai river were inaugurated by the CM in various parts of the district during the day. Sarma laid foundation stones for an embankment on the right bank of Dikrang river and a bridge over Subansiri river, besides a slum project, an inter-state bus terminus and other infrastructure initiatives. "During my visit to Lakhimpur district, launched Special Immunisation Drive 2.0 at Ghunasuti. Under this, every child will be vaccinated, while pregnant women will

Assam govt launches 'Orunodoi 2.0', scheme to benefit over 1 mn people

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the second version of 'Orunodoi', the flagship scheme of the state government aimed at providing financial security to disadvantaged families

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma rolls out projects worth Rs 894 cr in Majuli

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday rolled out a slew of projects worth Rs 894 crore in Majuli, the world's largest river island, an official release said. Sarma laid the foundation stone for improvement and upgradation of a road from Balichapori in Majuli to Bongalmara in Lakhimpur, including construction of two bridges over Luit and Subansiri rivers, it said. "The project is being implemented under Government of Assam's flagship programme Asom Mala' at a cost of Rs 694 crore. The chief minister also handed over cheques to families affected by land acquisition for construction of the road to connect Balichapari to the bridge," the release said. Sarma also laid the foundation stone for the main campus of Majuli Cultural University at a cost of Rs 51 crore, upgradation of Government Industrial Training Institute at Bangaon and a central mid-day meal kitchen. Besides, to address the perennial flood problem of Majuli district, he laid the foundation stone for constructi

Men can't marry 3-4 women, will have to change such system: Assam CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that there is a need to change the system of men marrying three-four women to give justice to Muslim women