Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said development of rural areas was essential to ensure complete development of the state since more than 85 per cent of the populace of Assam resides in rural areas.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the Panchayat Sanmilan, 2012, organised by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department of Assam. Gogoi said the state government was committed to work for the empowerment of the rural population and in order to ensure it, the government had decentralised power by empowering the Panchayats.
He said the government will take up similar steps in the next five years. State Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Rakibul Hussain, addressing the gathering, said the Panchayat system in the state has been strengthened under the present government.
He said the steps taken by the government have expedited the development process in the state and that has made the people of the state positive in their outlook.
Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka, who was also present on the occasion, said the Chief Minister has realised the dreams of the great leaders of the nation like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, through his persistent efforts to uplift the condition of the rural population and farmers of the State. Parliamentary Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development, Rana Goswami, speaking on the occasion said Assam has seen a lot of development since the Tarun Gogoi government came to power ten years ago. (UNI)
