Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal asks BDOs to prepare list of poor people

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked the Block Development Officers prepare a list of poor people in consultations with the local MLAs and submit the list within 15 days to the Panchayat & Rural Development Department.

At a high level review meeting with Chief Executive Officers, Project Directors and Block Development Officers, Sonowal asked the officials to transform the office of every BDO as a model office. “Our Government wants to make every development block as a model office so that poor persons get proper treatment and need not have to face harassment in getting their work done,” he said.

Sonowal said that the BDOs have to ensure that no poor person encounters any sort of problem in course of filing of any complaint or grievances. “You must ensure that a poor person has a hassle-free experience while filing any complaint. You have to dispose of his application within a day. Make sure that he does not have to come for the same work the next time".

The Chief Minister directed the BDOs to put up complaint box at their respective offices and to dispose of the complaints without any further delay. Sonowal instructed the officials to put up big hoardings in the panchayat and block development offices on the status of activities ‘to weed out corruption with screaming slogan: Giving bribe is a punishable offence, so also taking bribe is equally a punishable offence’ within a week. Sonowal said he would seek a report from the Chief Secretary.

Expressing concern over the delay in construction of two lakh house under Pradhan Mnatri Grameen Awas Yojana across the State, Sonowal asked the BDOs to complete the task expeditiously within the next two month. The Chief Minister warned of stern action if the target is not met by the respective BDOs. He also asked the officials to enlist the approved proposals of gaon sabha in the register book. “It must be recorded in the register book that the schemes have been formulated in deference to the wishes of the people.”