by Bhupen Goswami 

Guwahati : Assam Government today transferred Rs. 1 lakh to each of the 1487 landless family of Laika Dodhia in Dibru Saikhowa National Park through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Following Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s announcement on January 30 last during the 38 th triennial conference of Asom Tribal Sangha at Nellie in Morigaon district regarding rehabilitation package, State government disbursed Rs. 14.87 crore through DBT.

It may be noted that for the rehabilitation of the residents of LaikiaDodhia permanently, State government has been taking several steps. Chief Minister Sonowal has already constituted a high-powered committee with Forest and Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya as its chairman as the committee has taken necessary steps for the rehabilitation. Chief Minister Sonowal even asked the Revenue Department to assess the prevailing condition of the residents of Laika Dodhia from humanitarian angle and design a rehabilitation package by encompassing drinking water, electricity, health etc. Moreover, Sonowal also instructed the department to ensure that the new land for rehabilitation is not affected either by flood or erosion.