by Bhupen Goswami 

GUWAHATI : The Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today dedicated new building of Government Old Age Home at Sonapur to the service of the inmates. It may be noted that the building constructed involving a total cost of Rs. 3.5 crore would help the senior citizens who really need government’s help to provide refuge in good quality shelter homes. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma on the occasion also laid the foundation of 1000 Model Amganwadi Centres to be built across the state. He also launched 14567 ‘Elder Line’ a national helpline number for the senior citizens. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said, “I feel myself privileged to have inaugurated the new dwelling building of Government Old Age Home for our mothers who really need our help on a day when our government has completed 100 days in office.

There could not have a better way to commemorate the day than dedicating our old age home to the service of our mothers”. He, therefore, thanked Minister Social Welfare Ajanta Neog to lead her team to complete the construction of the dwelling house for the senior citizens. He also said that State government is committed to ensure welfare of the senior citizens to every possible means. He said that his government has already taken decision to allot seven days of leave to all government employees to be with their parents. He also said that his government would also set up an integrated complex consisting of Old Age Home and Children’s Shelter Home including other facilities at a sprawling plot of land of 65 bighas in Boko spending Rs. 100 crore.

The project would be completed in two years. He also informed that every district of Assam will have Model Old Age Home as the government is preparing a blue print to implement it in a time bound manner. Dr. Sarma also said that the existing around 6000 Anganwadi Centres would be given a facelift to make them ideal place for the growth of children. He also said that government has taken all possible steps to provide nutritious food to children for the physical and mental development. Chief Minister on the occasion also distributed wheel chairs to a number of beneficiaries. He also interacted with the inmates at the old age home and assured them to meet all their needs. Social Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog while speaking on the occasion gave a brief outline of her department’s agenda of priorities for the next few months to ensure welfare of all sections of the people of the state. MP, Guwahati Lok Sabha Constituency Queen Oja, MLA Dispur Atul Bora, MLA East Guwahati Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Chairperson Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Dr. Sunita Changkakoti, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Mukesh Sahu, Director Social Welfare Bibhash Modi and host of others were present on the occasion.