Minister Ranjit Dass Praises Progress in Cachar, changes Stance on Bengali Banner Vandalism in Assam

Continuing his tour through the Barak Valley, Ranjeet Kumar Dass, the Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs in the Assam Government, visited Cachar today to assess the progress of various developmental initiatives under his purview.

Remarkable Housing Allocation Progress

The minister, who had previously visited Karimganj and Hailakandi, expressed satisfaction with the pace of developmental schemes, particularly those related to housing. Minister Dass revealed that 19 lakh houses had been allocated to Assam under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). In a significant achievement, he noted that his ministry had managed to allocate 11 lakh houses to beneficiaries within 30 months. This marked a substantial improvement when compared to the period between 2016 and 2021 when only 4 lakh houses were distributed.

Dependency on External Sources for Staples and Oil

Furthermore, Ranjeet Kumar Dass shed light on Assam's dependence on external sources for essential commodities such as staples and oil. While Assam's own production meets only 30% of the demand, the remaining 70% is met through imports and supply chains.

Change in Language Stance

Notably, Minister Ranjeet Dass's stance on the language issue underwent a substantial shift compared to his remarks during his visit to Hailakandi. Previously, he had made a statement suggesting that there would be a reaction if Bengali banners were installed in Durga Puja pandals in the Brahmaputra Valley, insinuating a potential clash between Assamese and Bengali linguistic sentiments.

However, in Cachar, Minister Ranjeet Dass clarified his stance, stating, "Lachit is a national hero, a martyr revered in Barak Valley too. There are gardens in Barak Valley named after Bir Lachit. There are statues of Bir Lachit in Cachar and other parts of the region, and this speaks about the Barak, Brahmaputra assimilation," indicating a more inclusive approach.

Ranjit Dass emphasized that reactions in Barak Valley had occurred when government documents transported to the region contained only Assamese language, prompting immediate rectifications. He added, "Similarly, if a Bengali banner is being installed at Puja pandals, it is not to hurt any linguistic sentiments. Today, there are many Bengalis in the Brahmaputra Valley attending Assamese medium schools. They are a part and contributor to the Assamese culture. Such is the story of assimilation in Assam."

Click here to see what he said earlier

Language Issue and the Assam Official Languages Amendment Act of 1961

The linguistic issue surrounding the use of Bengali and Assamese is governed by the Assam Official Languages Amendment Act of 1961, which was enacted after 11 martyrs laid down their lives while protesting against the imposition of Assamese as the sole official language in Assam, including the region now known as Barak Valley. The amendment specifically states, "Without prejudice to the provisions contained in Section 3, the Bengali language shall be used for administrative and other official purposes up to and including the district level in the district of Cachar (now Barak Valley).

With inputs from Barak Bulletin