GUWAHATI, July 14 � The �bold initiatives� taken by the present government since 2001 have resulted in the gradual recuperation and strengthening of the State�s economic condition. This was claimed by the State Government in its White Paper on development, between 2001 and 2010, which was tabled in the State Assembly today.
The present government in the State took to a healthy financial management approach and prevented utilization of Plan money in paying salaries of the employees. It adopted a policy of utilizing Plan money only in development activities. This resulted in State�s speedy development.
On top of these steps, several other measures were also taken, which raised the State�s own revenue earning. And subsequently, the size of the State�s Annual Plan also grew much compared to the previous years.
The State government has also created a record of sorts by implementing a record number of welfare schemes and thus ushering in a revolution, said the While Paper.
The improvement in the economy of the State facilitated implementation of various developmental schemes under the Chief Minister�s Assam Vikash Yojana with an investment of Rs 1100 crore. The State government could arrange for cent per cent of the funds required for the purpose.
The present government, under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi, also initiated immediate moves to settle the important political issues, too, besides the initiatives to contain and resolve the insurgency problems.
Simultaneously, the political system was tried to be strengthened and the democracy was also sought to be taken down to the grassroots level. To meet the aspirations of the people, panchayati raj institutions have been strengthened and councils for development of the tribal groups have also been set up, the White Paper added.
The initiatives of the present government stabilized the law-and-order situation in the State and this enabled it to host the National Games, SAARC Car Rally in 2007, Asian Grand Prix in 2008 and Federation Cup Football and National Shooting Competition in 2009, among others, it claimed.
Under the present regime, the number of universities in the State has gone up to 12 between 2007 and 2010-11. The new universities that had come up in the State are Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, Don Bosco University, Down Town University, Bodoland University, Women University, Kumar Bhaskar Barma University and Assam Science Technology University. The present government has also facilitated private ventures to set up universities in the State.
The initiatives of the present government resulted in the growth of Plan and Non-Plan investments in health sector, improvement in the sector�s infrastructure, rise in the number of trained health workers, modernization of the health related services, etc.
The PWD, under the present government, has constructed 13,880 kilometres fair weather road between 2001 to March, 2010. By December, 2012, it is aiming to construct another 10,000 kilometres of such roads. In the meantime, 1478 timber bridges have been replaced with RCC bridges, while another 16,000 RCC bridges are under construction, the government said in the White Paper.
During the reign of the present government, an investment worth Rs 34,000 crore has been proposed in the industrial sector.
The White Paper also gave detailed account of the performance of all the government departments during the tenure of the present government.
