GUWAHATI: The forthcoming Assam Budget is going to incorporate demands and aspirations of ethnic communities in the state. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal gave this assurance during a meeting with the representatives of different ethnic organisations held here on Wednesday.
Sonowal sought suggestions from the representatives of ethnic communities to improve their socio-economic conditions and consequently feature them on the budgetary provisions.
Chairing the meeting, Sonowal said the government headed by him since taking over the power has been working to safeguard the cultural, linguistic and customary traditions along with their rights on mati, bheti.
He also pointed out that State government had already taken steps to allot land pattas to the indigenous community and the process had already taken off and by March 2020 one lakh beneficiaries would be distributed land pattas. He also said that in the coming financial year another one lakh land pattas would be given.
Addressing the meeting state’s Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma said that even in the past after discussion with the six communities, efforts were undertaken to reflect their aims and aspirations. Even now also the government would show sincerity in giving adequate representations of the issues and demands of different ethnic communities in the state budget.
Representatives from Moran, Mattak, Tea tribe community, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Adivasi, Santhal community were present at the meeting. Moreover, Minister for the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Chandan Brahma, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Phani Bhusan Chowdhury, Minister of State (i/c) for Tea Tribe Welfare Sanjay Kisan, Minister of State (i/c) for Revenue and Disaster Management Jogen Mohan, several MLAs, Commissioner and Secretary WPT&BC Dr. M. Angamuthu and other senior government officers were present at the meeting.
On the other hand, representatives from Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilani, Keot Jatiya Prishad, Sodou Asom Sut Parishad also met the Chief Minister in another meeting and put forward their demands to be reflected on the budget.