Guwahati, Feb 24 (IANS) Days ahead of the presentation of the union budget in parliament, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday urged for a special package to uplift scheduled castes and tribes and other backward classes in the state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gogoi sought Rs. 1,000 crore each for these communities in Assam.
He said the state government had been implementing various welfare schemes and projects aimed at the well-being of these weaker sections of society, including creation of infrastructure, employment generation, skill development and providing education and health care facilities.
The Assam chief minister said more focused attention and interventions were required for all-inclusive development of these people. For this, he added, there was an urgent requirement of additional allocations from the central government.
The chief minister said the Centre should provide assistance for setting up separate girls and boys hostel for students of these communities in every district of the state.
Gogoi said new streams may be introduced in industrial training institutes in ST/SC/OBC dominated districts of Karbi Anglong, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, Dima Hasao, Kokrajhar and Dhemaji for ensuring skill development of the youth of these communities.
He also highlighted the need to grant ST status to six communities of Assam, namely Koch Rajbongshi, Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motak and Tea and ex-Tea tribes.
He mentioned the unanimous resolution passed by the Assam assembly on August 5, 2004, for inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Assam.
