With eye on polls, Gogoi announces common religious bhawans, cut in rice price

GUWAHATI: With elections just a few months away, the Congress government in Assam has got into an overdrive, announcing a slew of measures including common religious bhawans and a cut in the price of rice supplied under the National Food Security Act.

“The religious bhawan will provide space for different religions, including for temple, church and masjid. This will help is checking the divisive forces and check intolerance,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Friday.

This will help in reducing conflicts and promoting religious harmony, he said. “To start with, this programme will be rolled out in Guwahati and gradually we will cover other areas.”

Rice under the National Food Security Act will be provided at Rs 2 a kg, compared with Rs 3 now. According to the government, around 2.5 crore people benefit from the programme in Assam.

Gogoi announced plans to construct dwelling units, with financial assistance from the state government, for tea garden labourers.

The wages of tea workers at state-owned Assam Tea Corporation gardens is considered for enhancement to Rs 177 per day from February 1, 2016, he said. “Tea associations have filed a court case against the wage enhancement notification of the state government. The government has requested to agree to the revised rate in their respective (state-owned) tea gardens in the interest of the tea gardens.” Currently, these workers get Rs 115.

He also announced plans to create development councils for Brahmins and Kalitas. This year, the government will recruit around 75,000 people in different posts, he added.

Free medicines will be provided to people below the poverty line. “All colleges will be covered by Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity,” he said, while also announcing coaching centres at district headquarters to help students preparing for competitive exams.