Four more COVID-19 positive cases detected in Assam, state tally increases to 41

Guwahati, April 30: Assam on Thursday has reported four more positive cases for COVID19.

With the new cases, the state tally has been increased to 41.

The new cases have been reported from Bongaigaon district.

Confirming the report, Assam Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, four more COVID-19 positive cases have been reported from the Bongaigaon district.

He tweeted – “Four more #COVID positive cases are reported from Bongaigaon district. The number of #COVID19 patients in Assam now stands at 41. ( 29 are discharged, 1 death, so active hospital cases 11.).”

On April 28, two positive cases for COVID-19 were reported from Goalpara and Bongaigaon district.

Assam has reported 41 positive cases for COVID-19 so far including nine cases from Golaghat district, six from Morigaon district, five each cases from Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon districts, four cases from Nalbari district and one each from South Salmara, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Cachar and Hailakandi district.

One COVID-19 positive patient from Hailakandi district died on April 10.

29 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from different hospitals of the state so far and 11 positive cases for COVID-19 are now active in the state.

Assam government to constitute Task Force to revive the state’s economy in post-COVID-19 scenario

Guwahati, April 28: Assam constitute task force to revive state`s economy. Given the ongoing nationwide lockdown due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that the state will constitute Task Force in district level to monitor the implementation of long term and short term development policies in the state by aiming to revive Assam’s economy in the post-COVID-19 scenario.

Sonowal called for a unified approach to tackle the economic slowdown while discovering Assam’s inherent strengths to make it a self-reliant economy that can bear the brunt of future situations.

As part of his efforts to reach out to various sections of the society, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday held an interactive session with the leading economists of the state at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati for seeking their suggestions to revive Assam’s economy in post-COVID-19 scenario.

Welcoming the suggestion of setting up economic task forces in the state till block level for taking specific revival measures for the state’s economy, the Assam Chief Minister highlighted the need to prepare a time-bound roadmap for achieving short and long term goals to rejuvenate the economy which has been hit by COVID-19 pandemic.

Underlining the importance of a 100 days action plan for restructuring the economic system, Sonowal said that prioritizing expenditures and streamlining various sectors such agriculture, livestock, etc to overcome the situation through planned interventions are the focus points of the government.

He also stressed on the need to plug the loopholes in the system while cutting out unnecessary expenditures.

“Utilizing natural soil fertility and climatic advantage for agricultural resurgence in the State are the keys and we must use this opportunity to make the state self-reliant and producer surplus in sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, livestock, horticulture, etc to generate employment opportunities,” Sonowal said.

“All the leading economists of the state have extended their suggestions to us and based on those suggestions, the state government is going to implement a lot of developmental programs, schemes with long term and short term methods. To monitor the whole exercise we are going to constitute task force up to different district levels,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Referring to the nearly 10 lakh youths returning to the state from various parts of the country given COVID-19 pandemic, Sonowal said that returning manpower should be viewed as an asset instead of a burden. He opined that the skill sets and experiences acquired by the returning youths working outside could be utilized to propel Assam towards economic resurgence and opportunities must be created within the State to absorb these youths productively.

He also called for inter-department coordination to overcome the economic challenge while equally taking care of weavers, farmers, daily wage, earners etc through government interventions and also harnessing the potential of the State through labor-intensive agri-based industries.

During the deliberations, the participants offered their suggestions and feedbacks while urging the government to take innovative and strong measures to overcome this challenge and bring the state’s economy back on track.

Welcoming the suggestion of setting up economic task forces in the state till block level for taking specific revival measures for the state’s economy, the Assam Chief Minister highlighted the need to prepare a time-bound roadmap for achieving short and long term goals to rejuvenate the economy which has been hit by COVID-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, Assam Finance minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, Assam had a buoyant economy before the COVID-19 pandemic as the state clocked impressive GDP growth of 12-16 percent in the last three financial years as against a national average of 6 percent.

“Assam’s devolution of Rs 24,000 crore per year from Central government’s pool of funds sustained the economy along with nearly Rs 13,000 crore state’s earnings and because of financial slowdown, innovative measures must be devised to overcome this crisis,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

As many as 29 economists and economic experts of the state took part in the interactive session and offered their suggestions for formulating the revival plan of Assam’s economy in the post-COVID-19 scenario.

Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami, Legal Adviser to the Chief Minister Shantanu Bharali, MLA Rituparna Barua, Principal Secretary of Finance department Samir Kumar Sinha were present in the meeting among others.

With no money, food migrant laborers are struggling to survive in Assam, Hojai district

Guwahati, April 29: With no money, no food, many migrant laborers are now struggling to survive in Assam, COVID-19 lockdown.

Over 60 migrant laborers from Jharkhand, Chattisgarh who stuck inside a factory campus in Assam’s Hojai district due to nationwide lockdown are now facing food scarcity.

The migrant laborers are working at a factory of Perfect Alloys & Steel Ltd at the Modertoli area in the Hojai district in the past several months.

Due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, the laborers have now faced a food crisis and money problems.

The migrant laborers have been locked inside the factory campus and alleged that, the owner of the factory didn’t provide any food to the stuck laborers.

Some laborers of the factory also alleged that, the owner of the factory didn’t release any payment to them.

“We want to return to our home. We have now no money and we are facing food crisis also,” one laborer said.

Another laborer said that – it is now very difficult for them to live in this situation.

The migrant laborers also appealed to the government to help them in this crisis hours.

Assam has reported 37 positive cases for COVID-19 so far.

Two new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the state in the last 24 hours.

One among the COVID-19 patients died and 27 others were discharged from the hospitals.

Assam reports two fresh COVID-19 positive cases, state tally surges to 37:

Guwahati, April 28: Reports of two more COVID-19 cases in Assam on Tuesday. Therefore the two new fresh COVID-19 positive cases take the state tally from 35 to 37.

The two new positive cases for COVID-19 have been reported from Goalpara and Bongaigaon district.

Both cases have secondary contact of Nizamuddin Markaz attendees.

Confirming the report, Assam Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted – “A person from Goalpara district, secondary contact of a Markaz attendee, has tested #COVID positive. The number of #COVID19 patients in Assam now stands at 37. Active hospital cases 9.

Earlier, a 16-year-old minor girl from the Salmara area in Bongaigaon district was tested positive for COVID-19.

“A 16-year-old girl from Salmara Bongaigaon, secondary contact of a Markaz attendee, has tested COVID positive. The number of COVID19 patients in Assam now stands at 36. However active hospital cases are 8,” Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

The Assam Health minister further said that, both patients have been tested positive and they are under quarantine.

Assam has reported 37 positive cases for COVID-19 so far including nine cases from Golaghat district, six from Morigaon district, five each case from Dhubri, Goalpara districts, four cases from Nalbari district and one each from South Salmara, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Cachar, Bongaigaon and Hailakandi district.

One COVID-19 positive patient from Hailakandi district died on April 10.

27 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from different hospitals of the state so far and nine positive cases for COVID-19 are now active in the state.

Assam government announces Rs 50 Lakh insurance cover for journalists:

Guwahati, April 27: Rs.50 Lakh Insurance cover for all journalists in Assam has been announced by the Government in the state who are reporting during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Announcing it Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that, the journalists braving their lives are giving adequate coverage of COVID-19 related issues and generating mass awareness across the state.

“As a mark of recognition to the selfless endeavor of the scribes, the state government is announcing this insurance coverage,” Sonowal said.

The Assam Chief Minister also said that, in the battle against COVID-19, the journalists along with the government departments are putting in their selfless services.

The Assam Chief Minister while wishing the journalists for good health and requested them to continue their novel venture in the days to come for the good for society.

Assam has reported 35 COVID-19 positive cases so far and 27 patients were discharged from the hospitals.

One COVID-19 patient died while he was undergoing treatment.

Assam has now seven active positive cases for COVID-19.

An excellent move to give Rs.50 Lakh Insurance cover for all journalists in Assam who are reporting during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, by the Government.