GUWAHATI, Dec 8 - �To make Assam one of the top states in the country in agriculture, both the agriculture and irrigation departments must work hand in hand so that the farmers in the State get motivated to work doubly hard. The new generation of engineers of the departments have a crucial role to play to bring about transformation in the agriculture sector of the State.� Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this while taking part in a programme for distributing appointment letters to 122 junior engineers in the irrigation department at the PWD Convention and Training Centre in the city today.
Urging the newly appointed junior engineers to prove their capabilities in the field as they have earned the opportunity to serve the department through a transparent selection process conducted by APSC, Sonowal said they must go beyond their mandate of only providing water to the farming fields by making an effort to understand the problems faced by farmers.
Stressing that the fertile lands of the State must be utilised properly by adopting modern farming methods and by opting for double and triple cropping, Sonowal said the farmers must be made aware about taking advantage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s ambitious schemes like Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) � Crop Insurance, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana etc.
He also said that the tractors to be distributed in each of the 26,000 villages of the State under Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojna (CMSGUY) would bring about a huge positive change in the rural economy of the State and would result in increased productivity.
Stating that only deeds and not words would bring change to the State, the Chief Minister said the State government is earnestly working towards realising the tourism potential and making the State a gateway to South East Asia by expanding the State capital region and setting up a Global Trade Centre of 65-floor twin towers. �We have invited ASEAN and SE Asian countries to set up consulates in Guwahati. Bhutan and Bangladesh have already accepted the invitation for opening assistant high commissioner offices in the city,� he said.
Urging the newly appointed junior engineers to stay away from the lure of corruption, Sonowal warned all government employees that those involved in corrupt practices would have to face the music and at the same time, good performers would be rewarded. Corruption prevents the schemes meant for the people from being implemented properly and that is why, the State government�s relentless campaign against corruption would continue, he said.
Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta said the department would also fill up the vacant posts of 201 assistant engineers, 720 posts of junior assistants and 390 of Grade IV employees soon.