Guwahati: In a move to draw a roadmap for holistic development ofAssam and to create a blueprint for expediting its growth as we allmake it a model on all sectors, State chief minister Himanta BiswaSarma along with spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev inaugurated athree-day Chintan Shivir at Kaziranga. The three-day camp beginningon Saturday will have elaborate discussions and deliberationsinvolving CM Sarma, State cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats,functionaries from the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma stated that Assam was once a veryflourishing the State and its GDP growth was more than the nationalaverage. The per capita income of Assam was also more than thenational average. Though the State is contributing greatly to growthof the nation in the last 75 years, the growth has not been asencouraging as it should have been. Referring to the devastationcaused by the earthquake and subsequent floods Sarma asserted thatthese had a negative impact on common psychology of the people. However, making a turnaround, the present government in Dispur withthe able guidance of the Union government has unleashed a series ofactivities which have given a new momentum to the development ofAssam.
The government has already ventured into a journey to steer theState to a robust growth trajectory, Sarma stated adding that thegovernment is encouraging a vision which has emerged from that senseof responsibility. Sadhguru, while addressing the congregation atChintan Shivir, emphasized on the initiative to save the soil. Amemorandum of understanding was signed on the Save Soil Movement withIsha Foundation though which the government would take actions onsustainable use of soil for agricultural practices.
Sarma also unveiled three rhino statues at Mihimukh of KazirangaNational Park along with Sadhguru, which have been created using theashes collected from burning rhino horns. It may be noted that Assamgovernment made a history when a stockpile of 2479 rhino horns wereconsigned to flames on 22 September last year sending a strong messageto the poachers and illegal horn traders that rhino horns have nomedicinal value. Later in the evening, Sarma and Sadhguru opened theworld-famous national park for the tourists for the coming season.Sadhguru led a jeep Safari from Mihimukh when he drove a jeep withSarma sitting alongside. State tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruahwas also present.
