Resubelpara, July 27: The Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said that it was a bounden duty of the government and all people concerned to provide the necessary hand-holding support to the new districts and urged upon the officers of the line departments in the district to give focused attention to the requirements of the district in different sectors of development.
The Chief Minister was addressing the gathering during the celebration of the 5th Foundation Day of North Garo Hills District at Resubelpara on Thursday. Local MLA & State Planning Board Chairman Salseng C. Marak, three other MLAs from the district & Parliamentary Secretaries, Brigady Marak, Cherak W. Momin and Marthon Sangma and Chairperson State Development Reforms Commission Bluebell R. Sangma were among others who joined the district administration and the people of the district in the day-long celebration.
Recalling the background and conditions that led to the creation of North Garo Hills District, the Chief Minister said that the State had gone through a lot of challenging times instead of focusing on development maximum time had to be spent on resolving problems. He therefore cautioned the officers serving in the district saying that if they do not give focused attention, “we will all be confronted by a situation where everyone will suffer”.
Stating that there has never been a time when the state has not been faced with financial crunch, the Chief Minister said that despite the fund constraints the government has tried to respond to the needs of the people in line with the spirit of democracy so as to generate hope among the people. “Infusing a sense of insecurity and hopelessness among the people particularly the youth, rather that infusing a sense of hope, will lead to a bleak and disastrous future”, he said.
“We took the first step five years back, this is just a beginning and there is much more to be done. There should be no room for complacency and as we move ahead we have to plan with scientific approach and in line with people’s aspirations and potentialities”, he added. He also stressed the need to have continuous trainings for all officers to improve their levels of efficiency. He also told the gathering that if they want to be served by the best of people they should persuade their children to do well in studies and take up coaching programmes being given by the government instead of going to the elected representatives seeking jobs for their children. He added that the government has put in place effective and accountable system of recruitment so there should be no reason to lose hope even for those cannot make it beyond classes IX, X or board exams.
Responding to the demands of the people of the district including construction of 100-bedded hospital and setting up of Navodaya Vidyalaya, the Chief Minister gave his assurance that all requirements of the new district would be fulfilled in due course of time, adding that construction of Integrated Government Staff Quarters was already in the process of completion. Considering the fact that Christianity and education both spread to Garo Hills through North Garo Hills region, the Chief Minister also left behind a challenge to the people, particularly the new generation of the district to reconnect with its history and strive to be the most advanced district in the western part of the state.
Local MLA & State Planning Board Chairman in his address remarked that the standard of living and economic condition of the people of the area have improved consideration since the creation of the district. Looking at the areas that required government’s attention, like shortage of manpower in most departments and development of road infrastructyre, he however said that development is a continuous process and called for committed efforts of all the people as they move forward for all round development of the district.
The Chief Minister and all dignitaries present also planted trees to commemorate the occasion. Parliamentary Secretary Brigady Marak, Deputy Commissioner S.C. Sadhu and ADC & PD DRDA P.K. Boro were among others who also addressed the gathering.
It may be recalled that Resubelpara Civil Sub-Division was upgraded to full-fledged district and inaugurated by the Chief Minister on July 27, 2012 after nearly two decades of movement for a separate district by the North Garo Hills District Demand Committee which began sometime in 1995. The new district has since witnessed opening of the first railway line upto Mendipathar, creation of new C&RD block at Bajengdoba and Kharkutta police station, among other developmental projects in the district.
