On the occasion of Lok Kalyan Diwas commemorating the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today presented Lok Sewa Award to 10 non-gazetted state government employees at the state level at a central function of Lok Kalyan Diwas held at Dispur on Friday.
It may be noted that altogether 99 State government employees 10 at the state level and 89 at the district level in recognition to their meritorious services were conferred on the Lok Sewa Award. As a part of the award each awardee was given a citation, Rs. 25,000 and an extension of one year of their total service. Hence, an awardee of Lok Sewa Award will be superannuated at the age 61 years.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma paying rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi on his 72nd death anniversary said that the day has been celebrated as Lok Kalyan Diwas as a mark of respect to the first Chief Minister of Assam and his unparallel role to the state and its people. Terming him as an architect of modern Assam who played a great role in establishing colleges, university and other institutions for creating human resources of the state, Dr. Sarma said, “Assam is greatly indebted to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi. It is because of his crucial role Assam has been saved from being part of East Pakistan now Bangladesh”.
The Chief Minister said that as a political leader Gopinath Bordoloi’s success laid on the fact that he played a crucial in defeating the proposals of the Cabinet Mission Plan. No Assamese can forget the role of Gopinath Bordoloi in thwarting the evil design of the Cabinet Mission Plan which posed a great threat on the existence of Assam. Had the Cabinet Mission Plan been successful, the geography and history of Assam would have been different today. Besides Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Sarma also expressed his gratitude to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Saratchandra Basu which helped Assam to remain with India as one of its integral part. The Chief Minister said that even after Independence and partition of the country, Gopinath Bordoloi continued his fight to secure the future of Assam. Bringing the administration of Naga Hills, Mizo Hills districts, Khasia-Jayantia Hills, Garo Hills and Mikir Hills in the 6th schedule of the Constitution and giving the ‘Plains Tribe’ status to the tribal living in the plains, Gopinath Bordoloi played a decisive role and made an indelible mark on the minds of the people of Assam.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that in only three years after independence, Gopinath Bordoloi government brought about paradigm shift in infrastructure development and laid the foundation of a modern Assam. He also hailed the role of Bordoloi in saving Assam from the aggression of migrated minorities. He also said that such is the role of Gopinath Bordoloi for Assam and its people, that government of Assam feels happy to celebrate his death anniversary as Lok Kalyan Diwas. He on this occasion, expressed my gratitude to the former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee for honouring Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi with the Bharat Ratna.
It may be noted that along with the celebrations of Lok Kalyan Diwas, Assam marked the culmination of Mission Sadbhavana Phase I today. The Chief Minister said that under the mission, Government of Assam has been able to dispose all petitions received so far leading the government to dispose 2.75 lakh files out of the 3.24 lakh files opened so far in Assam Secretariat. The files will be classified and some files will be kept, some will be sent to archives and others will be disposed off permanently by putting in shredding machine. The Chief Minister on this occasion also launched the process of shredding of files in Janata Bhawan.
Announcing that from the coming October 2, Assam Secretariat will completely become digital or e-office, under this people from any part of the state or outside without coming to Janata Bhawan can make petitions for their job which the administration will dispose of without the petitioner having to come to Janata Bhawan physically. He also said that every block in Janata Bhawan will have a nodal officer who will be exclusively responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene of the blocks. Moreover, crèche will be opened in Janata Bhawan besides making provision of free bus services for the staff. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also launched a temporary record room and a CCTV monitoring facility in Janata Bhawan premises.
Minister for GAD Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Additional Chief Secretary Transformation and Development Department Paban Borthakur, Principal Secretary GAD Avinash Joshi, Principal Secretary Administrative Reforms and Training Archana Verma, Gopinath Bordoloi’s son Bolin Bordoloi and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma attended the samadhisthal of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi at Nabagraha here today and paid his rich tributes to the stalwart of the independence struggle. He also paid floral tributes to Surabala Bordoloi, wife of Gopinath Bordoloi on the occasion.
Speaking on Lok Kalyan Diwas organised by Kamrup (M) district administration at Nabagraha commemorating the 72 death anniversary of the doyen, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said, “It is because of the decisive role played by Gopinath Bordoloi, Assam remained an integral part of India. His role of opposing the grouping policy will forever remain cherished by the people”.
He also said that the then Sadullah Government and its policies had led to large scale migrations to Assam. As a result of the pressure of migration, Assam which has always been an integral part of India would have gone to East Pakistan. Dr. Sarma also said that the grouping policy was a conspiracy hatched to disturb the socio-cultural and demographic identity of Assam and it was Gopinath Bordoloi who was instrumental in retaining Assam as an indispensable part of India and contributed to the formation of a greater and stronger India. The Chief Minister also remembered and paid his homage to the Ahom fighters who fought valiantly in Alaboi battle and put up a brave resistance before sacrificing their life for the motherland.
On this occasion, an all faith prayer meeting was held. Mayor GMC Mrigen Sarania, Deputy Mayor Smita Roy, Gopinath Bordoloi’s son Bolin Bordoloi and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
