Bhupen Goswami

GUWAHATI :Assam celebrated Chatra Diwas today, as Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma led the state in paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma on his 67 th birth anniversary. At a central programme held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here today, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma while paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma honoured his rich legacy and appealed to students to learn at least one ethnic language as a mark respect to the great soul. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that Bodofa Upendranath Brahma throughout his life contributed to the socio-economic and cultural empowerment of the people.

Therefore, on the occasion of Chatra Diwas commemorating his birthday, the Chief Minister announced several measures and rolled them out for the empowerment of students in the state. As a part of the welfare measures, Dr. Sarma inaugurated a scheme where in 3.4 lakh students of Higher Secondary and Degree will be given Rs. 1,459 each for buying books. Moreover, 16,763 students will get Rs. 7,157 each to pay mess bills. Every Post Graduate (PG) girl student will be entitled to Rs. 10,000 each annually and special benefits like minority scholarship to the tune of Rs. 2000 and Rs. 4000 will be given to every girl student for pursuing Higher Secondary and Degree courses respectively. The Chief Minister also started the process of distributing tablets to 51858 schools to enable them to maintain students’ data digitally.

He also disbursed funds to the tune of Rs. 50,000 under Abhinandan scheme as government subsidy to the students who are pursuing higher education by taking educational loans. Further, for making education free in colleges, the Chief Minister announced financial aids to 337 colleges. The Chief Minister said that deeply guided by democratic spirit, Bodofa Upendranath Brahma propagated his principles of ‘Live and let live’ and ‘We must stand for the survival of mankind of the world’.

Dr. Sarma said that Bodofa’s thought and philosophy are still active and fresh like flowing rivers. He also opined that every person of the state should be aware of the value of works rendered by Upendranath Brahma as the former President of ABSU. Referring to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma who believed that every student should have aim in life, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that an aim in life makes a person’s life purposeful. Stating that celebrations of Chatra Diwas to commemorate the birthday of Upendranath Brahma is a historic decision, Dr. Sarma said that the day will help the state to reflect on the actions and philosophy of Upendranath Brahma and how they will be beneficial to the students of the state. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that the announcements and disbursing of government aids to the accounts of the beneficiary students through DBT will help the government to revolutionise DBT process and get rid of the involvement of any third person. He also said that the government has extended its helping hands to lend self-reliance to every family which according to him will strengthen the edifice of Atmanirbhar Assam.

Dr. Sarma also said that celebration of Chatra Diwas and participation of the students from all corners of the state and BTR areas in deed is a testimony that all sections of the people of the state are lending their hands to the empowerment of student community. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Bodo Peace Accord which ushered in unprecedented peace and prosperity in BTR. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma on the occasion, also presented sanction letters to few beneficiaries physically to mark the beginning of rolling out of seven schemes for the benefit of the students. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, BTC Chief Pramod Boro also spoke on the occasion. Speaker BTC Katiram Boro, Adviser to Education, Government of Assam Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha, President Bodo Sahitya Sabha Toren Boro and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.