Guwahati, 13th February: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized in the Assembly that high population is a “disease” for the state, impacting its performance in various parameters. He asserted that the state’s poor performance in a nationwide cleanliness survey reflects on the people rather than the government, advocating for a ‘proper citizens’ movement’.
During a discussion on the state Budget, Sarma highlighted that Assam’s population burden affects its performance percentage-wise compared to states like Arunachal Pradesh or Meghalaya, which have lower populations. Responding to concerns raised about Assam’s gross enrolment ratio (GER) being below the national average, Sarma emphasized the need to address the underlying issue of population.
He acknowledged that the state’s previous low participation in national surveys affected its rankings and stated efforts to improve higher education enrolment rates. Sarma mentioned initiatives in the budget aimed at encouraging youth to pursue higher studies, addressing concerns about college shortages and low student enrolment in some newly opened colleges.
Regarding Guwahati’s poor performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024, Sarma emphasized the need for a citizen movement to address cleanliness issues. He cited challenges with garbage collection and emphasized the importance of citizen cooperation, pointing out successful models like Indore where citizens actively participate in garbage disposal and are willing to pay for collection services.
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