HAILAKANDI, April 24 - Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi�s maiden visit to Hailakandi district on Saturday was packed with meetings related to review of Centrally-sponsored schemes with the officials, besides taking stock of implementation of the Swachh Bharat awareness campaign.
Immediately on his arrival from Karimganj, the Governor was closeted in a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan, Superintendent of Police Mohneesh Mishra, Commandant of 21st IRBn and senior officials of CRPF, BSF and other security agencies at the Circuit House. The Governor also reviewed the law and order situation in the district.
Later in a meeting with the DC, SP, DDC and district heads of different departments at the DC�s Conference Hall, the Governor reviewed the progress on implementation of Central flagship programmes. The Governor stressed on submission of project-wise utilisation certificates on time, which would pave the way for their speedy and effective implementation.
Prof. Mukhi described the Central flagship programmes as a pivot of cooperative federalism aimed at bringing down the level of poverty and bridging the gap between the have and have-nots.
According importance to Swachh Bharat Mission, the Governor asked the Deputy Commissioner to inspect the schools and other institutions and to ensure cleanliness of the toilets together with running water. He asked the Deputy Commissioner to oversee that the Inspector of Schools visits atleast 5 to 6 schools per week in order to ensure cleanliness of the toilets.
It may be mentioned that Prof. Mukhi has given added thrust on Swachh Bharat Mission and has been reviewing the progress in the districts.
Lauding the achievement of the district administration in building thousands of individual household latrines, the Governor asked the administration to pitch in all efforts to make Hailakandi an open defecation-free district soon.
He asked the Agriculture Department to make all-out efforts in doubling farmers� income by switching from mono-cropping to double-cropping through technological interventions.
�Blessed with Nature�s bounty and fertile land, switching from single to multiple cropping can be easily effected in Assam,� he said.
In the same vein, Prof. Mukhi advocated the need for motivating youth to take up agriculture as a means of livelihood. �The youth are gradually weaning away from agriculture, which happens to be our biggest capital. There is an urgent need to motivate them so that they take up agriculture in a big way,� he added.
He enquired about the problems being faced by the departments and asked the Deputy Commissioner to send a report to the Raj Bhawan by reflecting the vacancy position and other constraints so that he could take up the matter with the concerned authorities.
The review meeting was followed by meetings with people�s representatives, political parties, socio-cultural organisations, religious, sports, literary and students� organisations. The Governor also received petitions on a gamut of issues.
Later, he interacted with the mediapersons and assured that he would take up personally the shortage of doctors being faced by SK Roy Civil Hospital. �You will see for yourself a sea change in the hospital within a month,� he said with conviction.
He also assured that he would submit a report to the Railway authorities for introduction of a direct train from Bhairabi bordering Mizoram to Guwahati.
The Governor said that the people of Assam must reap the benefits from the slew of Central and State Government schemes. Prof. Mukhi said Assam and the North East as a whole are forging ahead on the development front with introduction of new trains, flights and opening of new tracks and routes. He said opening of consulate offices by Bhutan and Bangladesh in Guwahati and opening up of the frontiers of connectivity with Asian and ASEAN countries would wipe out insurgency and ease the unemployment problem in the region. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for according top priority to the development of the North East.
Earlier, on his way to Hailakandi town, the Governor stopped at the Algapur Block Public Health Centre and went round the wards and toilets. Prof. Mukhi also paid a visit to SS College in Hailakandi town.
The Governor was accompanied by First Lady Prem Mukhi, Secretary Sanjiv Gohain Baruah, Joint Secretary DJ Borkotoky and ADC Suresh Kumar.
