Assam CM offers sops and freebies

In an obvious attempt to counter anti-incumbency wave of three terms in the run-up to the 2016 Assembly elections, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Friday announced the formation of at least three development councils, including one for brahmin community in Assam.

Announcing a series of freebies like pension of Rs 500 for one lakh farmers, free uniform for students up to Class 10, subsidy of Rs 1 on rice being given under the Food Security Act by the Central government at Rs 3 a kg, he said: “We have decided to set up three development councils — one for brahmin community and second for Kalitas. This is apart from the third development council for the Bodo-Kachari community living outside the Bodoland Territorial Council area.”

Mr Gogoi said his government has also decided to set up 15 new sub-divisions in the state.

Pointing out that his government was going to recruit 70,000 youths in the government jobs before the 2016 Assembly elections, Mr Gogoi announced that his government was going to launch an ambitious plan to provide free wi-fi connectivity to all the colleges in the state.

Though it was not known how much money would be required in implementing his announcement, Mr Gogoi said, “If not hundred per cent, we will succeed in implementing 80 per cent of this announcement during the current financial year.”

Bogged down by losing its tradition support base in tea workers community, Mr Gogoi also announced three separate schemes for tea garden workers, proposing houses, drinking water and education facilities for them besides assurance on forcing tea garden managements to provide minimum wage of Rs. 170 to the garden workers.

Mr Gogoi made this announcement in a function organized to celebrate New Years 2016 at his residence on Friday.

Admitting that he may be facing toughest challenge in the forthcoming assembly elections, Mr Gogoi however asserted that his party was prepared to fight against the BJP. “There are many factors including anti-incumbency of three terms but against all these odds, we are better placed against BJP,” said Mr Gogoi.