Gogoi thanks people for helping Assam bag award

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today thanked the people of the state, government employees, his ministerial colleagues and all others for extending their cooperation to help the state bag the 'Best Infrastructure Development State Award'.
"In spite of several problems afflicting the state-- insurgency, infiltration, flood and erosion, conflict of interests of different groups, Assam has been able to top the rank in Infrastructure Development Category which itself is an encouraging sign," Gogoi said in a statement.
Assam has been adjudged the 'Best Infrastructure Development State' in the big state category in the 13th States Conclave by India Today group in New Delhi yesterday.

Besides, the statement said, in composite development, Assam has moved from 19th in 2014 to 7th this year, in agriculture from 17th to 9th, in education from 17th to 7th, in health from 13th to 12th, in investment from 11th to 6th and in macro economy from 19th to occupy 4th.
The tempo of this development should go on to register higher growth trajectory and accelerate the pace of development on all fronts in the state, it said.
Referring to dissidence in his government, Gogoi said dissident activities led by former minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, who joined the BJP in August, also hampered the pace of development.

Besides, the retrogressive steps taken by the Centre like withdrawal of Special Category Status, suspension of North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, slashing of funds of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes have also affected growth of the state, he added.
If the much-hyped rhetoric of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Team India' has to succeed, the Centre should strengthen the states by releasing their dues, Gogoi said.