Majuli to be converted into a district

Bogged down by poor performance of state bureaucracy in past 10-15 years, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in his first Cabinet meeting, decided to take steps to streamline the functioning of the government to increase the satisfaction level of the people in its governance.

Informing that the Cabinet took note of the Human Development Report 2014 prepared by Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, the state public works department minister Parimal Suklabaidya told this newspaper that there have been many decisions but the focus of the Cabinet was to enhance the governance and restore the faith of the people in the new government.

Referring to the findings of the human development report that 77 per cent people of the state were not satisfied with functioning of the state bureaucracy, Mr Suklabaidya said that their focus would be to improve this situation. “The entire Cabinet led by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has resolved to change this scenario and restore the vision of good governance in the state,” said the veteran BJP leader while informing that the Cabinet has also decided convert Majuli — a sub-division into a district.

It is significant that the Assam chief minister, who was elected from Majuli — also an Assembly constituency — recently announced that his government would not only put in its best efforts to solve the island’s problems, but also mount a global campaign to attract tourists and also get Unesco’s World Heritage Site tag for Majuli.

Several satra institutions — vaishnavite monasteries — established in the 16th and 17th century which are both religious as well as cultural centres, attract a large number of tourists during the non-monsoon months.

The Cabinet gave nod to recruitment of 700 physicians to the state health department, besides deciding to generate a fund for the welfare of the Assamese film industry, said Mr Suklabaidya.