Modi said with decline of violent activities by 75 per cent over the years the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) was being withdrawn from large parts…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that development accelerated in the northeastern region after insurgency and ethic issues were resolved, along with the restoration of peace.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at Loringthepi in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, the Prime Minister said that with the declining of the violent activities by 75 per cent over the years, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) was being withdrawn from large parts of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
He added that Centre is working towards the complete removal of the Act from the region.
“The Bodo Accord and Karbi Anglong Settlement led to the prosperity of the backward areas of Assam. Problems of the displaced Reang tribals were resolved in Tripura,” Modi said after laying the foundation stones and inaugurating a cluster of educational and various development projects worth over a thousand crores in Karbi Anglong.
The projects include Amrit Dhara Project, and setting up of an agriculture and a veterinary college, along with two model colleges.
“For those youths who shunned violence and deposited arms and ammunition, the government would take steps for their rehabilitation. Former militants are now living with their families with peace and prosperity. The era of violence has largely ended in the region,” Modi noted.
The Prime Minister said that the decades-old inter-state disputes in the northeastern region are being resolved gradually.
He said that museums are being set up in the country to display the sacrifice, dedication and achievements of the tribals.
Saying that 75 “Amrit Sarovar” (ponds) would be constructed in every district of the country and these water reservoirs would facilitate not only water conservation but also enable fish farming and livelihood generation.
Digitisation
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday said that digitisation of the health services is underway in India to provide best, quick and trouble-free medical treatment and various health services to the people.
Modi said that 16 new AIIMS and one medical college in each district of the country will be set up to provide the best medical treatment to the people.
“Policy has been changed so that students can be taught in the medical colleges in their local languages and mother tongue,” Modi said after inaugurating the Dibrugarh Cancer Centre at the Assam Medical College and Hospital.
From Dibrugarh, the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated seven cancer hospitals and laid the foundation stone for seven more across Assam.
The seven cancer hospitals that were inaugurated by the Prime Minister are in Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tezpur, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Kokrajhar and Darrang while foundation stones were laid at Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Nalbari, Nagaon and Tinsukia districts.
Cancer is a major problem in the northeastern region, Modi said adding that with the setting up of seven more cancer hospitals and laying of the foundation stones of seven more such hospitals, the patients would get the best treatment in their district itself.
Modi said that with the government’s efforts, over 900 medicines are now available at a very cheap rate. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that with the opening and laying of foundation stones of these cancer hospitals with world call facilities and services, not only the people of Assam and other northeastern states would be benefited, but the people of the South-East Asian countries would also be benefited.
Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata, central minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta among others also spoke to the gathering. Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi, central Minister Rameshwar Teli and former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi among others were also present at the event. Tata Trust has contributed a lot to set up these cancer hospitals in Assam.
