The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Dakha Devi Rasiwasia College Chabua and laid the foundation stone of the Golden Jubilee Memorial Building. He expressed hope that the upcoming construction at DDR College Chabua is of global standards, underlining the need of infrastructural readiness for the success of any educational institution.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal appreciated the efforts and importance of the college’s contributions to the society of the region in the context of Chabua’s considerably remote geographical context and relative backwardness. He said, “Chabua is inherently associated with my personal identity. Its development is my happiness and such a feeling of pride is important for all of us present here”. He further said, “I am fully aware of the challenges and problems faced by the institution in its fifty years of glorious existence. It is only in an ocean of challenges that one can seek solutions to problems.”

The Honourable Minister stressed on the importance of a clear vision in this regard and said, “Clarity of vision is of utmost importance. It is hence critical that we evolve a vision statement as to where we would like to imagine DDR Chabua fifty years from now”. He took inspiration from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s approach of having a clear vision vis-à-vis the nation’s progress and spoke how it has helped India shape its current position as the world’s 5^th largest economy up from 11^th in 2014. This clarity of vision, he said, has allowed 54 crore people hitherto isolated from the global financial system to have bank accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and such schemes will propel the country in becoming the world’s largest economy by 2047.

Speaking about the future vision of the college he said, “Students, guardians and faculty form the three pillars of any educational institution. It is the solemn duty of these three to come together and chart out a strategy such that the human capital emerging out of DDR College Chabua can meaningfully contribute to the eventual upliftment of humanity”.

Later in the day, the Hon’ble Minister attended the Foundation Stone laying ceremony of four developmental projects at Kharjan Tea Estate under the Untied Fund Scheme and MPLADS Fund that are set to benefit the residents of Bindhakota, Balijan, Kharjan and Panitola areas under Chabua LAC. Emphasising on his close ties to the Tea Garden community, he appreciated the love, blessings and support he has received over the years that have led him to officiate as a Former Chief Minister, an MP and now as Union Minister.  He said that his close association with the community has allowed him to recognize the multitude of problems that plague them. He said, “Unlike the past when the Congress regime only paid lip service to Garibi Hatao, the current dispensation under Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji has actually worked on the ground to help eliminate endemic poverty of our Tea Garden brothers and sisters. Be it road construction, recruitment of teachers in Tea garden schools to providing maternity benefits worth Rs. 12,000 to pregnant females as well as accrediting Rs. 10,000 in 8.5 lakh bank accounts, the current NDA government has addressed all aspects of poverty. This has been possible due to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji’s vision as well as his humble beginnings as a tea-seller who saw poverty from up-close”.

Taking note of five meritorious students from Tea Garden backgrounds who have secured government jobs, he said, “They have got their jobs through hard work and dedication without taking the course of bribery, which the Congress regime of more than 60 years was infamous for. This is has been made possible through the work put in by the BJP led NDA government in the state since 2016. Across Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, tea gardens are finally on the road to development with pucca houses, provision of electricity, cooking gas as well as toilets”.

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GDH/THR