GUWAHATI, Sept 26 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal distributed appointment letters to the newly- recruited forest rangers and appointees on compassionate ground in the Department of Environment and Forest at a programme held at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here today. Altogether 50 forest rangers and 34 compassionate ground appointees in grade III and IV posts were given appointment letters today.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said corruption was prevalent in Assam from earlier times and the present government through its anti-corruption campaign has tried to weed out this menace from society.
The government adopted a zero tolerance attitude against corruption and carried out massive anti-corruption drives, the Chief Minister said adding that many government officials were arrested and put behind bars on corruption charges in the last four years.
As a result of his government�s anti-corruption drives, people�s confidence in the administrative machinery has increased significantly, Sonowal said.
The Chief Minister said that the government conducted recruitment processes in the most transparent manner and appointed youths purely on merit and competence.
He also urged the people to stay away from all forms of corrupt practices and help the government in the anti-corruption campaign.
Referring to the recent incident of leakage of question papers of recruitment examination for Sub-Inspector in Assam Police, the Chief Minister assured that all culprits would be brought to book. He said investigation to unearth the nexus that conspired to spoil the recruitment process is on and those who were involved would not be allowed to go unpunished.
Congratulating the new appointees, Sonowal urged them to work for identifying the true potential and possibilities of the State. He also urged them to work with sincerity to increase forest cover in the State and generate awareness among people living in the border areas of the forest reserves and sanctuaries, besides preserving biodiversity.
The Chief Minister further said that as a result of the State government�s committed efforts, forest cover in the State increased by 222 sq km as has been stated in the latest report of the Forest Survey of India. He also informed that the government in its bid to make Assam a pollution-free state, planted 8 crore horticultural and medicinal plants in the last four years.
Minister of Environment and Forest Parimal Suklabaidya, Chief Minister�s Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami and Principal Secretary of the department Avinash Joshi also spoke on the occasion.
While PCCF AM Singh delivered the welcome speech, the programme was also attended by several senior officers of the department among others.
