GUWAHATI, June 19 - Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia today lambasted the Central government for keeping Assam outside the purview of the Gareeb Kalyan Rozgar Yojana.
�In accordance with discussions with various state governments, the Prime Minister has decided to implement a Rs 50,000 crore scheme called Gareeb Kalyan Rozgar Yojana to rehabilitate migrant workers who have had to return home due to the COVID-19 related lockdown. The scheme, which will be implemented via specific departments of the Central government, will cover six states of the country. Why has Assam not been included among these states? The Prime Minister frequently drapes the Assamese gamosa on his shoulders and speaks a little bit in Assamese to strike an emotional rapport with the people of Assam. Why has he now forgotten to include Assamese migrant workers in the new scheme?� said Saikia.
He added, �The Finance Minister of Assam had informed that around 12 lakh people from Assam were working in other states and that they would return home phase-wise. Moreover, the Chief Minister has publicly admitted that it would be a challenge to rehabilitate these workers. As such, it is not only unfortunate but a matter of shame for the Chief Minister and the Government of Assam that the State has been unable to derive any benefit from the scheme devised for distressed migrant workers.�
Saikia said the Prime Minister had stated at his election rallies that Assam would gain a �double-engine government�.
�The partisan attitude displayed by the Prime Minister now towards Assam and its people has exposed the government�s real character. I protest in the strongest terms against the Central government�s decision to implement this scheme only in the Hindi-speaking belt. I urge the Chief Minister to discuss the matter with the Central government and ensure that the migrant workers of Assam also get benefits under the Gareeb Kalyan Rozgar Yojana,� said the senior Congress leader.
