Assam districts to be developed with own resources: Sonowal

Sonowal said the State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) can help the government by studying the resource status of the districts.

"When we focus on the available resources of the respective districts for preparing the budget and roadmap for development, then only we can achieve holistic development of Assam," Sonowal said while chairing a meeting of the SITA.

During the meeting, discussions on the proposal submitted by the SITA's expert committee for revival of Assam State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development (ASCARD) Bank also came up.

After demonetization, there is an increased need for bank branches in remote areas to transfer government scheme benefits to the beneficiaries, Sonowal said adding that the entities such as ASCARD must be revived after thoroughly considering its feasibility and outstanding liabilities.

Reviewing the proposal of SITA to conduct study on Tocklai Tea Research Institute in upper Assam, he said the research centre must aspire to become one of the best in the world providing solutions to the tea industry for increased production and quality maintenance.

The chief minister also directed SITA to find ways to popularise cultivation and consumption of local seasonal fruit varieties for their high nutrient contents.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to develop the Northeast as an organic hub, Sonowal urged SITA to conduct study to develop the organic agricultural fields in the state.