DHEMAJI, Feb 20 - State�s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has vowed to protect the language, culture and traditional practices of indigenous Assamese communities through its research and development.
Sonowal said this while attending the central Ali Aye Lrigang festival celebration, the main agriculture festival of Mising tribe, at Jonai in Dhemaji district today.
The festive celebration was conducted by State�s Directorate of Culture in collaboration of Dhemaji district administration.
Sonowal said that his government was committed to work for protection and promotion of the language and cultures of the indigenous tribes besides the socio-economic development of the ethnic communities.
Sonowal, who was impressed by the colourful festivities of Mising tribe, opined that socio-economic and cultural life of the greater Mising tribe is reflected on their festive celebrations. He urged the Mising youths to shoulder responsibility to preserve their rich culture for their ethnic identity.
�Our government has will protect and promote the language, culture and traditional customs of the indigenous Assamese people. The State will always be ruled by its indigenous people and no detrimental force can derail the existence of the people�, Sonowal said while urging the people to maintain unity and integrity among ethnic diversity.
Responding to a plea made by the Mising Baane Kebang (apex body) for development of the Mising Cultural Centre, the Chief Minister assured to grant funds for its construction at Jonai in Dhemaji district. He asked the Kebang functionaries to submit project proposal for the centre and instructed the Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Doley to work in this regard.
Stating that State government is taking steps to boost agricultural production in the State, Sonowal said that his government is giving financial aid to rural farmers for farm mechanisation. He further said that the State government has formulated a policy to grant pattas to rural farmers and forest villages.
�My government is all set to grant land pattas to 1 lakh rural farmers within a year to increase their economic strength�, he affirmed.
Minister Naba Doley said that the State government through its Directorate of Culture was planning to protect and promote traditional cultures of the indigenous communities through holding festivals under the auspices of the government. It is the first event of ethnic festival conducted with government funding.
Speaking the occasion, former Mising Agom Kebang (literary body) president Dr Bidyeswar Doley discussed on significance of the festive celebration, while Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu appealed to the Chief Minister for adopting a policy for development of education in tribal areas.
Among others, Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah, Lahowal MLA Rituparna Baruah, government officials besides Mising Autonomous Council members and community leaders attended the programme.
