Assam governor Gulab Chand Kataria revealed on February 5 that Assam Police had seized contraband drugs and narcotics worth Rs 1882 crore since chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed office in May 2021. Kataria shared this information during his speech on the first day of the budget session of the Assam legislative assembly.
However, the session was disrupted due to protests by opposition legislators.
In his address, governor Kataria outlined the achievements of Assam Police in combating drug-related crimes. The period from May 10, 2021, to January 2, 2024, saw the recovery of 167 kg of heroin, 30,963.72 kg of ganja, and other substances. He highlighted a significant reduction in overall crime numbers from 1,33,239 in 2021 to 63,713 in 2023, with a corresponding increase in the conviction rate from 6.1% to 16.69% during the same period.
Governor Kataria also reported that 1249 militants surrendered in the last year, turning in 364 arms and 2946 rounds of ammunition. He emphasized the historic accord signed with ULFA on December 29, 2023, aiming to bring an end to decades of hostility, bloodshed, and militancy. The accord is designed to protect the political, social, and economic interests of indigenous communities, preserve cultural heritage, restore peace, and promote rapid economic development in the state.
Addressing the issue of child marriage, Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted the state government’s efforts in launching special drives under relevant laws. As a result, 5347 cases were registered against more than 8,800 accused, leading to the arrest of over 4,407 individuals. He emphasized the grassroots-level initiatives taken to tackle this violation of human rights, causing physical, psychological, and emotional trauma.
Governor Kataria also discussed the government’s actions against corruption, citing successful trap cases against public servants. In the last calendar year, 91 trap cases led to the arrest of 117 people, including 103 public servants and 45 officers. The Bureau of Investigation into Economic Offenses registered cases related to GST fraud, bank fraud, NBFC, and misappropriation, resulting in the arrest of 88 individuals.
Providing updates on employment in the government sector, governor Kataria stated that the government had employed around 88,547 unemployed youths out of a targeted one lakh, with plans to fulfill the target in the coming years. Additionally, he highlighted the mobilization of rural households under Self Help Groups (SHGs) and the successful promotion of the ‘Lakhpati Mahila Kishan’ initiative.
Governor Kataria concluded by sharing details about the state’s preparedness for natural disasters, including the provision of Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF) to various Village Organizations (VOs). He reported that around 5.37 lakh SHGs had availed loans from banks, totaling Rs 10,091.31 crore. The ‘Amrit Brikha Andolan,’ an initiative to boost the tree economy, saw active participation from SHG members during the fiscal year 2023-24.
