Assam CM urges minority community to adopt family planning, reduce conflicts
The Sarma-led Assam government has in a month’s time embarked on a series of eviction drives to remove “illegal” settlers (mainly from the immigrant minority community) from government land and religious sites. The eviction drives have drawn flak from some political parties and organisations.
From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the minority community to adopt “decent family planning” norms to control the population and alleviate poverty in the state.
“Uncontrolled population growth is the root cause of poverty and conflicts over land in the state. We cannot allow the state's population to explode and conflicts to multiply for want of living space. Hence, we want to work with the minority community against such issues, for which it has to adopt decent family planning norms,” Sarma said during a media conference here on Thursday.
The Sarma-led Assam government has in a month’s time embarked on a series of eviction drives to remove “illegal” settlers (mainly from the immigrant minority community) from government land and religious sites. The eviction drives have drawn flak from some political parties and organisations.
The Chief Minister further appealed to the All Assam Minorities Students Union (AAMSU) and the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to introspect on population control initiatives and preach the same among the immigrant minority population in the state.
“We are going to take more measures in the coming days to encourage small families among the minority community and are willing to work with AAMSU and AIUDF on the issue. We also seek community support to spread education among Muslim women. I hope the community will respect the government’s stand on this and cooperate,” Sarma said.
He warned that lack of living space has led to encroachments, which again have happened because of a spurt in population.
“Some parties and organisations have criticised the eviction drives. But we cannot permit squatters in forest/farmland or land housing satras and temples,” he added.
ALSO READ: Assam: Board, HS exams by mid-July if COVID rate dips below 2 per cent: Himanta
TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp. CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.
