Speaking during meeting on the 'Chief Minister's Vision Statement 2016 for Women and Children' at the state secretariat here, Gogoi said, the state government had given top priority to health and nutrition of women and children.
"While infant mortality and maternal mortality has been reduced considerably in Assam, we have to keep an eye in those areas of the state where the problem still prevail to some extent," he said, directing concerned department to focus on health aspect of pregnant women and newborn babies.
He further said, "We must also dismantle barriers which hamper the literacy campaign among women and children so that female illiteracy can be reduced and we are also ensure that children do not leave education mid-way. Targets set up for such efforts need to be fulfilled."
The chief minister directed state government officials to look into issues related to education of the girl child.
Gogoi said the government was determined to promote self-reliance among women by ensuring greater participation for them under panchayat and rural development programmes and other welfare initiatives.
He said rural development programmes should be formulated in a manner which would allow greater participation of women.
"Immediate steps have to be taken to see that safe drinking water is available in those areas where presence of arsenic and fluoride contents make access to potable water a problem. Targets have to be set in this regard," Gogoi added.
