Assam CM dedicates Jalukbari co-district headquarters

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 5, 2024

In a significant step towards decentralizing governance and bridging the burden of distance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday ceremoniously inaugurated the new co-district headquarters for Jalukbari at a function held at Jalukbari.

To create smaller administrative units below the district level for timely access to essential government services and streamlining citizen-centric services by bringing governance to the grassroots, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sarma rolled out 39 co-districts in the first phase. As a part of it, Sarma formally inaugurated Jalukbari co-district and dedicated the co-district commissioner’s office to the service of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said that in the annals of the administrative history of Assam, October 4 and 5 will be considered an important milestone as the inauguration of 39 co-districts will lead to bringing all major services at the doorsteps of the people.

 “During my tenure as MLA, I have noticed many residents travel long distances to have access to basic services at the district headquarters. It was really a challenge that the people encountered, which fuelled the demand for new districts, often granted without necessary administrative infrastructure,” he said.

“With the launch of co-district Headquarters, we have taken important steps toward decentralizing local governance. I believe this initiative will eliminate the burden of distance, bringing essential services closer to the people,” he also said.

The Chief Minister further said that taking forward Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of decentralizing power and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of effective grass root level governance, Assam has become the first state to launch and operationalize Co-Districts, which will be targeted administrative units of the district.

The Chief Minister also said that after the delimitation exercise, the need was felt for creating an equal and enabling administrative infrastructure in all the 126 legislative assembly constituencies in the state. For works like Next of Kin certificates, caste certificates, PRC, land matters etc, going to the office of district commissioners and spending time takes a toll on the people. Moreover, district commissioners also remain busy in such works, the time the DCS otherwise could have spent for development works of the district.

Sarma said that steps like creating co-districts based on the Assembly constituency will lead to saving precious time of the people of the district.

The Chief Minister also said that though the people demanded sub-divisions, these administrative units do not have much power vested in them.

However, the co-districts have been endowed with more powers enabling them to become more empowered to fulfil the basic needs of the people. These 39 Co-districts will streamline citizen-centric services as their operations will be focussed on a defined geographic area.

Sarma expressed hope that the co-districts will cohesively work in targeted areas to improve the district’s overall growth prospects. He also said that the state government in its regular review meetings with the DCs, underlined the importance of a district-led development model in Assam’s growth and co-districts will turn into an important component to achieve this vision.

The Chief Minister said that over the last two days, the Council of Ministers including him dedicated the offices of Co-Districts to the service of the people. It is a major administrative overhaul and an important part of the present State government’s efforts to ensure ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Assam, Sarma added.

The co-districts will have jurisdiction on the services like land revenue, administrative and magisterial powers, food and civil supplies, excise, disaster management, development and welfare works of the people.

The Chief Minister said that this focussed approach will greatly ensure efficiency in service delivery leading to convenience of the people and the development of the state.

The Chief Minister while inaugurating the co-district headquarters also planted a ‘Bakul’ sapling in the premises of Jalukbari co-district headquarters.

MP Guwahati Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.