Ensure overall development of sars: Minority MLAs to Assam Government

The Opposition minority MLAs have appealed to the State Government to ensure all-round development of the sar dwellers of the state, instead of viewing them with an eye of suspicion. They said that the government should bring the sar dwellers on a par with the rest of the state.

Moving the private member resolution, AIUDF MLA Ashraful Hussain said, “Around 30 lakh people reside in around 2,000 villages in sars. They lag behind in all aspects – education, healthcare, connectivity, etc. The government has not conducted any survey of the sars of the state after 2003. The government should conduct an immediate survey of the sars in the state and take measures for the socio-economic development of the sar dwellers. Spending crores of rupees for the distribution of umbrellas, sewing machines, rickshaws etc., to sar dwellers annually cannot ensure development in such areas.

“The sar dwellers need education and healthcare. The population explosion in sar areas is due to poor literacy rate.”

Aminul Islam (senior) of the AIUDF said, “The Britishers brought people from erstwhile East Bengal under its grow-more-food scheme and settled them in the sars of the state from 1901-1908. However, circles concerned still now view them as jihadis and people of suspected nationalities. We need to shed this mindset and bring the sar dwellers to the mainstream of society. Education, connectivity, health infrastructure are a must for development.”

Nurul Huda of the Congress said, “The government should conduct a survey of the sars and give land pattas to the sar dwellers. The vegetables they grow meet the bulk of the demand in the state. They have the right to keep pace with others of the state.”

Aminul Islam (junior) of the AIUDF said, “The 30 lakh sar population is a huge human resource. The government has not been able to utilize this human resource. Will the dream of greater Assam ever come true minus such a huge population? The government should provide them with proper education and bring them to the mainstream of society. Viewing them with an eye of suspicion won’t solve the problem.”

Aftab Uddin Mullah of the Congress said, “The government needs to focus on education and healthcare to develop the sar dwellers. The government should issue identity cards to the erosion-affected people as others in the state view them with suspicion wherever they go. Criminals may reside in sars and other areas as well. We cannot brand all sar dwellers as people of suspected nationalities.”