Seven years ago, when I took over as Chief Minister of a Congress Government, Assam was almost a lost case. Terrorists were calling the shots, people were scared of coming out after sunset, government employees were not getting salaries on time, roads were totally dilapidated, and businessmen were shifting out due to extortions and abductions. There was total insecurity all over, and people were living in a state of mental despair where they thought development and normalcy had to wait till peace was brought back.

While my first task was to bring the law and order situation under control and instil a sense of security, we also took stern measures to raise our own resources and bring about fiscal discipline as early as possible. As 80 per cent of our people live in rural areas, my immediate focus was to take the administration to their doorstep, for which we launched a very successful programme called “Raijor Podulit Raijor Sorkar” (people’s Government at people’s doorstep).

It was difficult ensuring a smooth flow of funds from the then NDA Government. Initially, it refused to provide us Central funds for schemes where we were unable to put our share of 25 per cent. It was after a lot of persuasion at the Prime Minister’s level and also after a lot of perseverance that we could get funds released for various developmental activities from the Centre. The panchayat elections, which the previous Government had not held for reasons best known to it, brought a new meaning to people’s participation at the grassroots level, and with it society also got its first taste of women’s empowerment.

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