I-Day celebrations: Hailakandi making good strides amid COVID-19 pandemic, says DC Dahal

August 15: Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Megh Nidhi Dahal unfurled the national tricolour at Parade Ground at his office campus here on Saturday. Unfurling the national flag, Deputy Commissioner, Dahal said the State and Central Governments have initiated a slew of people oriented schemes and projects and the people of Hailakandi district, too, have reaped the benefits with various departments implementing them even during the COVID-19 situation in the past five months.

Lauding the efforts of health workers, safai karmis, drivers, officials and employees of DDMA, Police, DIPRO, Fire and Emergency Services, PHED, Education, Agriculture, Veterinary, Social Welfare Water Resources and others in the fight against COVID-19, Dahal urged the people to come forward voluntarily to get their swab tested at the screening and testing centres to prevent the disease from spreading further in the community and making Hailakandi a COVID free district.

The Deputy Commissioner said that NITI Aayog has been according top priority to Hailakandi for being an aspirational district and has allocated additional fund for its good performance in January-February this year.
Dahal revealed that Rs.2.5 crore has been earmarked for the development of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Stadium under CSR project. The Deputy Commissioner said under the Ministry of AYUSH, construction of PHCs, CHCs, Sub Centres and OPD have been under various stages in the district. Dahal said the district is making good progress under Atal Amrit Abhiyan with scores of people deriving benefits. Under the Aspirational District Program, upgradation of SK Roy Civil Hospital and Sub Centres are going on in full steam, he said.

Dahal said that various schemes are being executed by the Panchayat and Rural Development department in the district, including MGNREGA. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, almost 5,000 dwelling units have been constructed in the district during the period 2016-2017 to 2019-20. Under the National Social Assistance Programme, Dahal revealed that almost 19,000 elderly persons have been provided old age pension, besides close to 2,400 women and differently abled persons have benefitted under Indira Gandhi Vidhva Pension Yojana.
Under Pradhan Mantri KISHAN, PMFBY, CMSGUY, RVVY, BGREI and NFSM, tens of thousands of farmers have benefited, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner pointed out that 12 nurseries have been set up and around 7.5 lakh saplings distributed in the past four years by Forest Division, Hailakandi. On the education front, Dahal said that the district has put up a good show in the HSLC, High Madrassa and Higher Secondary exams this year. He said that despite the closure of educational institutions due to COVID-19 pandemic, online education is going on in full swing in the district. Under the Mid-Day Meal scheme, ration is being provided to the students at home. Dahal said under CSR project, e-smart classrooms have begun in SK Deb High School and Kuchila High School. The Deputy Commissioner said more than 25,000 individual household latrines have been built together with water supply connections in rural households under Jal Jeevan Mission.

Dahal said the Information and Public Relations Department has been conferring fellowship to journalists, besides pension to those who have a chequered career spanning 20 years in the field of journalism. He appreciated the pivotal role played by DIPRO in creating public awareness through various campaigns. The Deputy Commissioner said under Antodaya Anna Yojana 35 kg rice has been given to around six lakh beneficiaries comprising 15,000 families each, besides 5 kg rice each to Priority Household card holder comprising around one lakh families free of cost. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, additional five kg rice, one kg chana and one kg masur dal have been provided free of cost. That is not all. “Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Yojana, around 10,000 families have got 5 kg rice per head in May and June free of cost, besides one kg chana in August this year. Non NFSA card holders are getting Rs.1,000 per family,” he added.

On the road infrastructure front, Dahal said 19,000 km roads and around 800 bridges have come up in the state in the past four years. Giving an account of the district, Dahal disclosed that 20 numbers of roads under PMGSY, and 10 number of bridges have come up under SoPD (G) and under ODS in the district in the last four years.
Under Poshaan Abhiyan, Dahal said that the district has performed remarkably well with Hailakandi bagging two State level awards, including SAM/MAMS in 2019. The district also earned encomiums for innovative initiatives like amla-gur candy and dibba addan pradan to reduce anaemia among children and women, he quipped.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner took guard of honour with march past by Police, APBn and Home Guard personnel. Dahal along with Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath and other senior officials of the civil and police administrations placed floral wreaths at the Jatiya Swahid Smarak. All the government buildings have been illuminated promoting the theme of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. People waved the national tricolour from the premises and balcony of their houses amid the playing of patriotic songs by DIPRO personnel in the evening hours.