Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal kills Assam check-gate graft

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal took a major decision at his first Cabinet meeting Wednesday: the abolishing of check gates across the state.

Check gates were said to be a major reason for extortion and corruption in Assam, the state Cabinet has directed the authorities to ensure that all check gates are removed across the state.

These check gates had given birth to various syndicates that would extort truckers, leading to a cascading impact on prices of materials from outside the state. The demand to end this “check-gate culture” has been voiced for the last 15 years but no government took the risk of abolishing this nexus of officers and politicians. Each and every goods carrier entering Assam was subjected to extortion by these check gates of various departments.

In yet another significant decision, Mr Sonowal’s government has adopted the Central government policy abolishing interviews for recruitment of Grade IV employees. He has also ordered a reduction in the number of vehicles in his convoy.

Mr Sonowal allocated portfolios to his 10 ministers. He has kept home and the political department, social welfare, power, personnel, Assam Accord department, elections department, Hills area development, revenue, disaster management, border area development, welfare and minorities development, judicial, legislative law department and any other department not allotted to other ministers.

The number two in his council of ministers, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has been given charge of finance, education, health and family welfare, tourism, planning and development, handloom and textiles, pensions and public grievances, GDD and co-operation.