Assam Budget proposes Rs 868 cr to hills, councils

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today proposed to allocate a total of Rs 868 crore for implementing various schemes in hill areas and autonomous and development councils during 2014-15.
"For financial year 2014-15, an amount of Rs 591.11 crore has been proposed for implementation of various schemes under normal state plan, HADP and other plans in the hill areas of Assam," Gogoi said while presenting the state Budget for the current fiscal.
In addition to this, Rs 216.45 crore has been proposed to six autonomous councils for specific development of various ethnic communities, he said.
"An amount of Rs 60 crore has been allocated to 19 development councils," Gogoi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said.

On the state's agriculture, the Budget proposed to double the area under organic farming in this fiscal from the existing 4,500 hectares.
Gogoi said: "Our government will give high priority to improve the capability and effectiveness of the police force. For this, all vacant posts will be filled up. New posts will be created where necessary. A new Police Academy will be set up for training facilities."

An amount of Rs 50 crore has been provided for immediate repair and renovation of police infrastructure in the field, especially in the two hill districts and BTAD areas, he added.
"Special emphasis will be given to control women and child trafficking and to bring the culprits to book in time. Women cells will be set up in all police stations," Gogoi said.

Commenting on the bandh culture, Gogoi said they not only cause big harassment to peace loving citizens, including students, patients, poor people dependent on daily wages and such others, but also disrupt normal economic activities of the state resulting in loss of man days and income.
"According to one estimate, production loss in the state due to bandhs amounted to approximately Rs 10,000 crore in 2012," he said.
The Chief Minister further said the state government was considering sanction of 62 new courts as proposed by the Gauhati High Court for quick resolution of disputes.
"Our Government distributed 1,40,324 bicycles to BPL girl students last year. For this scheme, an amount of Rs 50 crore is proposed for this year," he said.

Considering the educational backwardness of the tea and ex-tea tribe communities, the Budget proposed to make special allocation of about Rs 43 crore for their further education.