GUWAHATI: “60 years ago, Oil India Limited (OIL) started its journey from Naharkatia oil well No. 1in Dibrugarh district of Assam. Over the years, OIL has made significant contribution to the growth of the state. It has generated employment opportunities in the towns and villages of the state through which it has brought economic empowerment and made the people self-reliant. OIL has also forayed into skill development and it must boost up initiatives in skilling the youth with greater focus”, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this while taking part in the celebration of 60 glorious years of India’s second largest oil exploration and production behemoth OIL at South Bank oil well at Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district on Monday.
Appreciating the team spirit of the OIL family, Chief Minister Sonowal said that OIL’s benefits have not been limited to its employees alone but it has immensely contributed to the growth of Assam. He further said that the Rs. 10,000 crore MoU signed by Oil with Govt. of Assam at the Advantage Assam: Global Investors Summit would give an added impetus to the state’s resurgent economy.
In connection with the celebration, awards of excellence for performance were presented in seven categories to OIL employees. The chief minister also ceremonially laid the foundation stone of a 60 years commemorative gate at the Naharkatia OIL well No 1.
As part of the celebration, OIL also organised another programme for disbursement of financial assistance and inputs to joint liability groups (JLG) under its CSR scheme “Project Rupantar” at Duliajan today. In the programme Chief Minister Sonowal distributed 150 Power Tillers, 50 pickup vans and financial assistance to 200 JLGs.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in women led development and that state government puts adequate thrust on women empowerment”, Chief Minister Sonowal said and expressed hope that OIL’s Project Rupantar would greatly benefit the women JLGs.