Guwahati, July 15: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged legislators on Wednesday to transform their constituencies into self-reliant economic units. He emphasized the need to reduce dependency on food imports from other states and to make Assam self-sufficient in dairy, fish, meat, and agricultural products.
While addressing the assembly on the state’s development agenda, Sarma stated that achieving self-reliance is the most effective way to eliminate the ‘syndicate culture’ in the state. He explained that the solution to dismantling the syndicate system lies in self-sufficiency. Once Assam becomes self-reliant, there will be no need to rely on resources from outside the state.
The Chief Minister called on all legislators to launch campaigns at the constituency level aimed at achieving self-reliance in key sectors such as dairy, fisheries, livestock, and agriculture. He stressed that each assembly constituency should aspire to become a ‘self-reliant constituency’ where essential items like milk, fish, vegetables, potatoes, and eggs are produced locally rather than imported from neighboring constituencies or outside Assam.
Sarma highlighted the importance of building self-reliant constituencies as part of the broader vision of a self-reliant India and Assam. He stated, “My constituency should not need to source milk, fish, or vegetables from elsewhere.” He encouraged legislators to promote dairy cooperatives, fish farming, pig farming, and poultry under various government schemes, asserting that these initiatives would strengthen rural livelihoods and boost local production.
Referring to Amul, a leading dairy company, Sarma urged Assam to set ambitious targets for increasing milk production. He pointed out that if Amul can produce over 8 to 10 million liters of milk daily, there is no reason why Assam cannot establish numerous successful dairy cooperatives and emerge as a leading milk-producing state.
The Chief Minister also urged legislators to ensure public cooperation in the implementation of government projects, especially in cases where land acquisition is necessary. He emphasized that landowners should receive fair compensation and have adequate participation in the development process.
Sarma described the next five years as crucial for Assam’s development, noting that the state had laid a strong foundation during the previous term but now requires acceleration in growth. He reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure, stating that eventually, each district in Assam will have a medical college as part of the state’s long-term development strategy.
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