District Admin hosts 80th Independence Day ceremony as Minister Rai outlines major projects across Cachar and Barak Valley

way2barak, Aug 15: — Calling upon citizens to make nation-building a shared responsibility, Minister for Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs and Cooperation, Kaushik Rai on Saturday urged the people to work together to build “a strong India, a prosperous Assam and a peaceful society”as Cachar joined the nation in celebrating the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour.

Hoisting the National Tricolour at DSA Stadium, Silchar as the Chief Guest, Minister Kaushik Rai highlighted Assam’s development journey under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and outlined a wide range of major infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture, investment and welfare initiatives being implemented across Cachar and the wider Barak Valley.

The grand ceremonial programme, organised by the Cachar District Administration, was attended by senior civil and police officials, representatives of various departments, students, security personnel and members of the public. Following the flag hoisting, the Minister took the salute at the ceremonial proceedings before addressing the gathering.

In his Independence Day address, Minister Kaushik Rai paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs whose courage, sacrifice and determination secured India’s freedom. He recalled the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and several freedom fighters and martyrs from Assam and the Northeast, including Maniram Dewan, Kushal Konwar, Piyali Phukan, Mukunda Kakati, Kanaklata Barua, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Ullaskar Dutta, Kamini Kumar Chand and Bir Sambudhan Phanglo.

Reflecting on India’s 80-year journey since Independence, the Minister said the country’s progress represented a continuing story of sacrifice, struggle, self-confidence and nation-building. He said India was moving towards the goal of becoming a strong, self-reliant, prosperous and modern nation, with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 providing a broader developmental direction.

Referring to the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, Minister Rai said that people across the country had participated enthusiastically by hoisting the National Flag at their homes. He described the campaign not merely as an event but as a symbol of respect for the country’s independence, responsibility towards the nation and faith in the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”.

Highlighting Assam’s development journey, the Minister said the State Government was working continuously to strengthen the economy, infrastructure, industries and investment ecosystem, education and healthcare, agriculture and rural economy while creating new opportunities for the youth. He said Assam’s geographical position, natural resources, human resources and cultural diversity provided immense potential for the State to emerge as an important development centre of the Northeast.

Minister Rai said the second consecutive government led by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had opened new avenues of development, while the implementation of commitments made during the previous term had further strengthened public confidence in the Government. He emphasised that the State Government was seeking to carry forward both “tradition and progress” in Assam’s development journey.

He said the Government’s vision of development went beyond large infrastructure projects and focused on bringing tangible change to people at the last mile. Farmers, workers, women, youth, tea communities, tribal communities, minorities and other disadvantaged sections were being brought into the development process through various welfare and development initiatives.

The Minister also spoke about the challenges faced by Assam following severe natural calamities earlier this year. He said that despite the devastating floods in several districts, particularly in upper Assam, relief and rehabilitation measures were undertaken under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. At the same time, development works and welfare programmes were resumed following the Budget session, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises.

Highlighting the broader achievements of the State Government, Minister Rai said Assam had witnessed significant progress in governance, infrastructure, investment, employment and sports. He said that during the first term of the present Government, the commitment to provide one lakh government jobs resulted in 1.64 lakh appointments being made on the basis of merit and transparency. He further referred to the commitment to provide another two lakh government jobs during the next five years.

The Minister also highlighted reforms in the Home and Political Department, including strengthening of the police and criminal justice systems, disaster management and prison administration. He said the State had made significant progress in implementing the new criminal laws, while technology and scientific investigation methods had helped reduce crime, pending cases and investigation workload and improve conviction rates. He also referred to intensified action against drugs through targeted operations, digital platforms and seizures.

For Cachar, the Minister highlighted several major infrastructure projects. The new District Commissioner’s Office at Silchar is scheduled for completion by March 2027 while the new Circuit House at Silchar is also targeted for completion by March 2027. The work on the Sribhumi Medical College and Hospital, with an estimated cost of Rs 621 crore, has achieved 28 per cent progress. Model Degree Colleges at Lakhipur and Dholai are targeted for completion by next March, with classes planned to commence from the following academic session.

He further informed that the District Library building and Auditorium in Cachar are planned to be completed during the current year and opened to the public. Ten Tea Garden Model Schools have already been constructed in Cachar during the past five years, while infrastructure improvement works are progressing in 32 government high schools at a cost of Rs 8 crore each. Work on 45 Jagannath Community Centres-cum-Skill Centres in the tea areas of the district is also nearing completion.

On road infrastructure, Minister Rai highlighted the much-awaited Silchar Trunk Road-Capital Point-Rangirkhari Flyover, being taken up at a cost of Rs 664 crore. Pile-testing work has already commenced and full-scale construction is scheduled to begin shortly. Work on the Tarapur-Shivbari Road sinking zone being implemented at a cost of Rs 64 crore, has achieved around 50 per cent progress.

Land acquisition for the proposed 1,900-metre four-lane road from Birbal Bazar to Medical College Road is nearing completion, while around Rs 5.50 crore has been sanctioned for the Capital Point-Rangirkhari road.

The Minister said that during the past five years, 1,450 km of roads have been sanctioned in Cachar under the Mukhyamantri Pakipath Nirman Achani, Mukhyamantri Unnat Pakipath Achani, SOPD and RIDF at a total cost of Rs 2,126 crore, of which 828 km have already been completed. Another 80 km of roads are being constructed under Asom Mala 1, 2 and 3.

Highlighting regional connectivity, Minister Rai referred to the Barapani-Silchar High Speed Express Highway, a major initiative with a project cost of Rs 22,864 crore. He said the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 14 and the tender process for all four packages had already been completed, with construction expected to commence shortly.

He further informed that the Rs 6,724 crore Silchar-Churaibari four-laning project had achieved around 44 per cent progress and was targeted for completion by 2027. The Rs 957 crore Silchar-Jiribam Package-I had achieved around 50 per cent progress, while the Rs 1,973 crore Silchar-Vairengte four-lane project had reached approximately 70 per cent progress and was targeted for completion by next March.

Healthcare infrastructure also featured prominently in his address. The 500-bed Emergency Hospital at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, being constructed at a cost of Rs 166 crore, is nearing completion. Work on the Rs 198 crore Super Speciality Hospital at the medical college campus has also commenced.

The Minister said work on the Modular OT for the Neuro Surgery Department at Silchar Medical College is nearing completion, while the 50-bed Critical Care Block at Silchar Civil Hospital and the 100-bed Lakhipur District Hospital are progressing. Services at the Lakhipur hospital are expected to commence by 2027.

Highlighting improvements in health indicators, Minister Rai said Assam’s Maternal Mortality Ratio had declined from 480 during 2004-2006 to 84 during 2022-2024, placing the State below the national average for the first time. The Infant Mortality Rate had also declined to 29.

In the education sector, Minister Kaushik Rai highlighted financial assistance being provided to students under schemes including Mukhyamantri Nijut Moina and Mukhyamantri Nijut Babu, besides free textbooks, fee waivers, scooters, bicycles and uniforms. He also informed that 386 Model Anganwadi Centres have been sanctioned in Cachar district.

On urban development, the Minister highlighted the State Government’s initiatives for planned urban expansion, including the Guwahati Satellite City project and the development of a modern Convention Centre at Silchar. He also referred to the ongoing process for addressing Silchar’s waterlogging problem through a scientific survey and preparation of a master drainage plan based on appropriate gradients. Plans for parks and a Town Hall in New Silchar and an electric crematorium at the Silchar cremation ground were also highlighted.

In the food security sector, Minister Rai said 70 lakh ration cards covering 2.48 crore beneficiaries were being provided five kilograms of rice per beneficiary every month under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. He also highlighted subsidised distribution of essential commodities to families in Assam and the Government’s efforts to rationalise beneficiary lists while adding eligible beneficiaries.

In agriculture, the Minister said Assam had made significant progress in paddy procurement and procured a record 8.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the 2025-26 season. The State Government is providing an additional Rs 200 per quintal over the Central MSP to farmers. In Cachar, 68,989 farmers benefited from the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, while around 55,000 Soil Health Cards have been distributed.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Minister said 1,477 Water Supply Schemes had been taken up in Cachar, providing piped water connections to 3,46,220 households. At the State level, the Mission had achieved significant progress in extending rural household tap-water connections.

On rural development and employment, Minister Rai highlighted the expansion of rural employment opportunities and the increase in the guaranteed employment period from 100 to 125 days under the new framework referred to in his address. He also informed that 22.84 lakh houses had been constructed in Assam under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana since 2016. In Cachar, 1,47,160 houses had been sanctioned, of which 1,12,237 had already been constructed.

Under the 15th Finance Commission, 12,298 projects have been taken up through the Cachar Zilla Parishad, Anchalik Panchayats and Gaon Panchayats with sanctioned funds of Rs 263 crore, of which 8,550 projects have been completed.

The Minister also highlighted women’s empowerment initiatives under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, under which 1,26,234 women in Cachar have benefited. Under Orunodoi 3.0, financial assistance has been extended to 1,85,518 women in the district.

Turning to Assam’s investment and employment prospects, Minister Kaushik Rai said MoUs worth Rs 5.18 lakh crore were signed during Advantage Assam 2.0, with around 60 per cent reportedly at the implementation stage and expected to generate more than two lakh employment opportunities. He also highlighted the Tata semiconductor project at Jagiroad as a major potential catalyst for Assam’s economic transformation and referred to financial assistance under CMAAA aimed at helping unemployed youth become self-reliant.

For the tea-growing communities, the Minister said the State Government had initiated the process of granting land rights to tea garden workers and around 30,000 tea workers had already been provided land pattas. He also highlighted the Basundhara mission, through which more than 3.5 lakh families had received land ownership rights, with the process for Basundhara 4.0 scheduled to commence from December.

The Minister also highlighted the Barak Valley Development Department, constituted in December 2024, which has commenced work for the development of Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi in coordination with various departments of the Central and State Governments. He said the department was working towards accelerating development across the region.

He further referred to the expansion of the cooperative sector in Assam with more than 12,800 cooperative societies and over 34 lakh members while efforts were underway to develop new multipurpose agricultural, dairy and fisheries cooperatives. He said a target had been set to increase milk production in the State, with Purabi Dairy already collecting around 2.43 lakh litres of milk regularly.

Emphasising his responsibility towards the region, Minister Kaushik Rai said that as a people’s representative from Barak Valley in the Government, the development of Cachar and the entire Barak Valley remained his primary responsibility. He reiterated his commitment to discharging that responsibility and working for the continued development of the region.

The Minister also expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for conferring the Padma Shri posthumously on noted Barak Valley personality Kabindra Purkayastha, describing the honour as a matter of pride for the entire region.

Concluding his address, Minister Kaushik Rai said that the sacrifices of the freedom fighters had given the people the privilege of living in an independent nation, and that the best way to honour their legacy was to contribute, according to one’s capacity, to the development of the country and society.

He called upon the people to collectively resolve to build “a strong India, a prosperous Assam and a peaceful society”, stressing that development could never remain static and that sustained progress required the collective resolve and active participation of all citizens. He urged the people to carry forward the development process in a more inclusive manner and build a more promising future for the next generation.

Earlier in the day, Minister Kaushik Rai accompanied by District Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta, IAS and Senior Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Partha Pratim Das, IPS visited Gandhibagh Martyrs’ Memorial and offered floral tributes.

Meanwhile, the 80th Independence Day was also observed with equal fervour in the two co-districts. In Lakhipur co-district, Commissioner Dhrubajyoti Pathak, ACS hoisted the Tricolour at the Arl HS School field, while in Dholai co-district, Commissioner Roktim Baruah, ACS hoisted the National Flag at the PWD field and took the guard of honour.

Adding to the festive atmosphere in Silchar, an exhibition football match between Cachar District Administration XI and Cachar District Bar Association XI was held at DSA Ground later in the afternoon, where Cachar District administration won the friendly football match by 2-1 bringing together members of the administration and the legal fraternity in a sporting celebration of the national occasion.

This is stated in a Press Release issued by the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.