Friday, September 25, 2009

Special package for hill districts soon: CM

STAFF Reporter
GUWAHATI, Sept 24 – The State Government will soon announce a special package for the development of the hill districts of North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today. Addressing a Press conference here today, Gogoi said that the Hill districts remained underdeveloped and militancy also contributed to lack of development. He said that the situation in NC Hills was even worse than Karbi Anglong as development funds were misused for years.

Gogoi said that the decision of the DHD (J) to come for talks by surrendering weapons is a positive side and hoped that it would result in overall improvement of the situation. He said that as many as 386 militants belonging to the DHD (J) have come over ground and surrendered 142 weapons to express their desire to solve the problems through talks. Even the top leaders of the outfit including the Commander in Chief Niranjan Hojai have come forward for talks, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the situation in NC Hills was a matter of serious concern for both the Central and State Governments and everyone had doubts on whether the outfit would come for talks by accepting the pre-conditions of the Government and the Centre was also concerned on whether the outfit would finally come over ground.

Gogoi revealed that the Government has initiated steps for the rehabilitation of the militants who return to the mainstream. He said that surrendered militants would be appointed in two battalions for their rehabilitation. He said that steps have also been taken for modernization of the police force and to fill up the vacancies in the force. The State Government will be a part of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System to be created by the Government of India.

The Chief Minister, who was in USA recently on a private visit, said that the State Government would try to follow the model of community colleges of USA to provide vocational training to the school and college dropouts of the state.

Gogoi further revealed that the Government is planning an international conference of experts to devise ways to deal with floods.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com

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