Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday assigned “guardian districts” to 16 of his cabinet colleagues to speed up development across Assam’s districts.As guardian ministers of the districts, they have been given the responsibility of working closely with the district administrations to ensure smooth implementation of all schemes and programmes.Cabinet minister Atul Bora has been given responsibility for Kamrup (Metro) district, which covers the capital, Guwahati, and Dhemaji district. CM’s close aide Pijush Hazarika has been assigned the highest of four districts: Nagaon, Hojai, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.All 16 cabinet ministers have been allotted one or more districts. Guardian ministers will coordinate with district administrations to support development, even as portfolios for the 12 new ministers who took oath on Friday are yet to be assigned. Sarma had said the new ministers will get departments within a week.“I am pleased to announce the allocations of Guardian Districts to the Hon’ble Ministers of the Govt of Assam,” Sarma wrote on social media on Sunday. “I am confident that the Hon’ble Ministers will work closely with the district administrations to further accelerate our journey towards progress and prosperity,” he added.Minister Rameswar Teli will oversee Tinsukia and Jorhat. Charan Boro has been assigned Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang. Ajanta Neog has been allotted Morigaon and Kamrup. Ashwini Ray Sarkar will be guardian minister for Bongaigaon and Barpeta.Ashok Singhal and Bimal Bora have been assigned Darrang and Dhubri; and Sivasagar and Charaideo, respectively.Other allocations are: Biswajit Daimary (Nalbari, Sonitpur), Jayanta Mallabaruah (Tamulpur, Goalpara), Keshab Mahanta (South Salmara-Mankachar, North Lakhimpur), Nilima Devi (Bajali, Udalguri), Ranoj Pegu (Biswanath, Golaghat) and Susanta Borgohain (Majuli, Dibrugarh).The two ministers from the Barak Valley region have been assigned the three Barak Valley districts. Kaushik Rai will oversee Sribhumi and Hailakandi, while Krishnendu Paul will handle Cachar along with Dima Hasao.After becoming CM in 2021, Sarma introduced the concept of “guardian ministers” in Assam to ensure effective implementation of govt decisions, welfare schemes and administrative reforms, and to periodically review centrally sponsored schemes.
