Assam is emerging as a model state, with its innovative schemes and governance practices being adopted by other states, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of three new co-districts under Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, Sarma highlighted Assam’s leadership in decentralised governance, citing the introduction of "co-districts" as a groundbreaking initiative.
"Assam is the first state to operationalise the concept of co-districts, which will revolutionise governance at the grassroots level by bringing administration to people’s doorsteps," Sarma remarked.
The chief minister expressed confidence that other states in India would follow Assam's lead, stating, "I am confident that other states of the country will also adopt this concept in the next four to five years, though they will give different names to it."
Decentralised administration
The co-district model, designed to streamline citizen access to government services, has been introduced to relieve the burden on district commissioners and allow them to focus on broader developmental works.
Each co-district will handle essential services, including land revenue matters, welfare schemes, food and civil supplies, panchayat and rural development, and disaster management, Sarma noted.
Assam currently has 35 districts, but demands for more administrative units have been growing, especially after the delimitation exercise that confirmed 126 legislative constituencies in the state.
“We decided to set up an administrative unit in each constituency to provide services to the people so that they do not have to go to the district commissioner’s office," the chief minister explained.
Sarma also pointed out that citizens currently face challenges when seeking services from district commissioners, including accessing government schemes, land-related work, and development-related initiatives.
"If powers are decentralised to the co-districts, it will not only save time for the people but also enable the district commissioners to concentrate on development works," he said.
Flood management and future expansion
Flood management, a perennial issue in Assam, will also be under the purview of the co-districts.
The new administrative units will assume responsibility for flood relief efforts, ensuring more immediate and localised responses to disasters.
The chief minister disclosed that while there is a need for 78 co-districts across the state, the government has launched 39 in the first phase, with 21 inaugurated on Friday and 18 on Saturday.
The remaining co-districts will be operational by early 2024.
"The co-districts have been set up with the objective of timely access to essential government services by citizens, to improve efficiency bringing governance to the grassroots and streamlining citizen-centric services," Sarma said.
'A model for other states'
The chief minister emphasised that Assam, previously dependent on administrative models from West Bengal and other states, is now setting an example for the rest of the country.
"Earlier, Assam’s administrative machinery was modelled on that of West Bengal and other developed states, as the British governed the region as a single administrative unit. But now we have adopted several landmark schemes which are inspiring other states," he said.
Sarma also highlighted the growing interest from other states in schemes like Orundoi, a programme benefiting women, and the education department’s Samarth portal.
"Several delegations have come to Assam to understand these initiatives in detail, so they can be adopted in their respective states," he noted.
Beyond the manifesto
Sarma proudly declared that his government had fulfilled all promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto, and in many cases, had gone beyond its commitments.
"Declaration of Assamese as a classical language, securing UNESCO heritage status for Charaideo maidams, and setting a world record for Bihu dance are examples of going beyond the manifesto," he said.
The chief minister credited the "double-engine government" of the BJP at both the Centre and the state for Assam’s rapid progress.
"We are doing work way beyond the manifesto and will continue to do so in the future," he added.
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