GUWAHATI: In a major boost to medical care and road communication in Upper Assam, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal kicked off a number of development projects in Dibrugarh district on Sunday.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Mother and Child Care Hospital and laid foundation stone for construction of a dental college at Assam Medical College Hospital apart from initiating reconstruction of a19km stretch of NH37 from Chaulkhowa to Borboruah in Dibrugarh.
While the 300-bed Mother and Child Care Hospital has been constructed at a cost of Rs 12.05 crore, the NH37 reconstruction would be taken up with a financial outlay of Rs. 32.29 crore.
Speaking on the occasion in a public meeting held at Dr. Berry White Auditorium of Assam Medical College Hospital, Sonowal underlined the rich contribution of the prestigious medical institution towards the development of medical education and health care facilities in other parts of the state.
He said that the people of the state desired that the dignity of the pioneering institution was fully maintained, which ensured with joint efforts of all sections of the society including the medical fraternity.
Stating that the new infrastructure and modern equipment would give a new
dimension to the medical college, the chief minister stressed on their proper utilisation and maintenance of best standard of service as well as cleanliness in its campus.
Highlighting the state government’s initiatives to boost infrastructure development as well as initiatives to transform the state as the gateway to the ASEAN and BBN nations, the
chief minister called for joint efforts and exhorted to uphold Team Assam spirit.
He hoped that as a result of better infrastructure in the field of communication and other sectors
Assam would soon emerge as a preferred global destination. Further, saying that the Prime
Minister’s Act East Policy leverages the growth trajectory of the state and the north eastern region, Sonowal urged the students and young generation to work hard to materialise the hallowed vision of the Prime Minister.
He also put special thrust on maintaining cleanliness in day to day life and observed that ‘Swachhata he Seva’ campaign would significantly help in motivating people to keep the environment clean and healthy.
State health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Mother and Child Care Hospital was the most modern MCH institution in all six medical colleges with latest line of equipment in the state.
He hoped that this institution would significantly help people of Upper Assam with better medical facilities.
He further informed that the government of Assam approved Rs 50 crore for construction of a permanent and independent campus of the Dental College for which foundation stone was laid on Sunday.
“Already admission to 50 students were given in the dental college which also got recognition from Dental Council of India,” Sarma said adding that the dental college would be named Dibrugarh Dental College.
He also informed that apart from the six medical colleges, construction work of
medical colleges at Nagaon, Dhubri, Lakhimpur and Diphu was smoothly progressing.
Besides work for three new medical colleges at Nalbari, Kokrajhar and Tinisukia would start soon for which the government already approved budget of Rs 1000 crore.
He said that construction work of AIIMS would start from November this year and medical college at Karimganj from next year.
The health minister also informed about investing more funds for strengthening the infrastructure of hostels, quarters of faculty members and blood bank at Assam Medical College.