Guwahati, Apr 28 () Leading economists of Assam onTuesday advised Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to prepare a100-day action plan to revive the state's economy, which hasbeen hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, and set up multiple taskforces to ensure that the benefit of welfare measures reachthe block levels.
As part of his efforts to reach out to varioussections of the society, Sonowal held an interactive sessionwith the economists of the state to seek their suggestions toovercome the COVID-19 crisis and bring the economy back ontrack.
"As many as 29 economists and experts of the statetook part in the interactive session and offered theirsuggestions for formulating revival plan of the Assam'seconomy for post-Covid scenario, a statement said.
Welcoming the suggestion of setting up economic taskforces for taking the benefit of specific revival measures tothe block levels, the chief minister highlighted the need forpreparing "a time-bound roadmap for achieving short and longterm goals to rejuvenate the economy which has been hit byCOVID-19 pandemic".
Sonowal called for unified approach to tackle theeconomic slowdown and mentioned the Assam's inherent strengthsto make it a self-reliant economy.
Underlining the importance of a 100-day action planfor restructuring the economic system, he said the stategovernment is focusing on planned intervention to streamlinevarious sectors such as agriculture and animal husbandry toovercome the crisis.
He also stressed on the need to plug the loopholes inthe system and cut down unnecessary expenditures, thestatement said.
"Utilising natural soil fertility and climaticadvantage for agricultural resurgence in the state areimportant and we must use this opportunity to make the stateself-reliant and production surplus in sectors such asfisheries, agriculture, livestock and horticulture to generateemployment opportunities," the chief minister said.
Sonowal said over 10 lakh youths have returned to thestate in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and it shouldbe "viewed as an asset instead of a burden".
He also called for inter-department coordination forimplementing the welfare schemes for farmers, daily wageearners and marginalised people of the society.
At the inaugural session, Finance Minister HimantaBiswa Sarma said Assam was a buoyant economy before theCOVID-19 outbreak as the state clocked an impressive GDPgrowth in the last three financial years.
The state's share of Rs 24,000 crore per year from theCentral government's pool of funds sustained the economy alongwith its own earnings of nearly Rs 13,000 crore, he said.
In view of financial slowdown, innovative measuresmust be devised to overcome the crisis, Sarma said.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Social WelfareMinister Pramila Rani Brahma among others were present in themeeting. ESBBDC BDC
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