KOKRAJHAR, Jan 6 - In a bid to make healthcare facilities more accessible in the BTC area, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today laid the foundation stone of the Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital at a programme held at Besorgaon in Kokrajhar.
Amidst a huge gathering, the Chief Minister appreciated the forward looking leadership of BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary for the development of all the four BTC districts i.e., Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri. He also stated that the Central government as well as the State government of Assam have been pumping funds and making strategies to develop the BTC region. Sonowal also said that this medical college and hospital will cater to the medical care and needs of the people and also add to the number of doctors in the region.
He also said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is not going to cause any threat to local inhabitants of the State and every one in this State will remain protected in every way for their progress and development.
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Medical College in Kokrajhar was to get under way in 2011 itself but got delayed. However, the present government took a fresh initiative for implementing the project which will be completed within two-and-a-half years. He added that this medical college has been allocated Rs 382 crore in the State Budget and will have 500 beds. It will have at least 100 seats for medical students per year and generate almost 1200 jobs. Further, this medical college-cum-hospital will be a full-fledged one provided with all modern technologies and infrastructure while the same campus will be extended for a 100-bed cancer hospital and a separate 100-bed Mother and Child Care Hospital unit and a dental college. He added that the BTC Nursing College under construction in Kokrajhar will also be also a part of this Medical College. Further, he said that the government of Assam has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the Kokrajhar Govt College besides a full-fledged sports college in Kokrajhar is under process of this government.
He also praised BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary for his services for the growth and development of BTC area in the last 15 years. He also declared that as per the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Rs 1000 crore for BTC area, an amount of Rs 500 crore has been already released and the State government is set to release the remaining Rs 500 crore in the ensuing budget session to commence shortly.
He also declared that Rs 5 lakh will be paid to each of the martyr�s families of Bodoland movement as a token of respect for their sacrifices and the money will be handed over on February 10 next on the Bodo Accord Day.
Speaking on the occasion, BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary said that institutions like Engineering College in Udalguri, Forest College in Chirang, Sports College in Kokrajhar and Agricultural College in Baska are to come up in a very short period in BTC area while in view of Rupshi Airport to be operational soon, a helipad in Kokrajhar is to be opened shortly for better connectivity of the area.
At the same time, he clarified that he has full support for ST status to the six communities as under consideration of the govrenment without disturbing the existing ST quotas. Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma, BTC Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyari, MP, Biswajit Daimary, BSS president Toren Boro among others also attended the programme.