Gogoi renews call to militants for peace talks

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday again called upon militants operating in the region to come forward and hold talks with the government for not only a peaceful solution to the Bodo and ULFA problem of the state but also for allround development in the state.
Gogoi, addressing the Independence Day function amid tight security due to bandh call given by almost all the militant organisations of the state, said the insurgency in the region had affected the development of not only Assam but also the entire region.
The chief minister said the government had been able to restore peace to a large extent over the last two decades but development had taken a backseat due to the ongoing insurgency. He said peace would increase boost activities and help generate employment for the lakhs of unemployed youth in the state.
He also announced 30 per cent job reservation in the government sector for women, and added that soon it would introduce legislation to give a final shape to their decision. At present, there is a ban on employment in the state due to its poor financial condition.
He also announced launching of a new rural health scheme — Rural Health Service — to improve the almost non-existent health facilities in the state.
The CM also said that the government had taken up with the Union government the issue of declaring recurring floods as a national problem, but had not received a positive response yet. He said it was not possible for the state government to solve this problem as it lacked funds.
While talking of the state of Assam''s forests, he said they were left with only 16 per cent forest cover as against the minimum requirement of 33 per cent. He said the government was adopting a policy of involving villagers residing in forest areas to help maintain a balance.
Talking about the ongoing Bodo problem in the state, he said the state government would ensure the protection of Bodos and non-Bodos while solving the problem.