Health care too has undergone revolutionary changes, and a steady flow of funds, coupled with a better atmosphere has helped the Government health machinery win back the people’s confidence. We have opened evening OPDs in all government hospitals while IMR and MMR have come down significantly in recent years. We are also the first to have introduced health and accident insurance for the people, and today pacemakers and chemotherapy too have become free for most categories of people.

Yes, we have several major problems too, two most important being floods and infiltration. We are happy that the UPA Government has taken keen interest in solving the flood and erosion problem, and it was only last week that the Prime Minister said funds would not be a problem. Unlike our predecessors, we have taken a practical two-pronged approach to tackle influx from Bangladesh. One is to immediately put a full stop to fresh influx; and two, to speed up the process of detection and deportation under the prevalent laws and the Assam Accord. We are also updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) so that every post-1971 infiltrator could be detected, for which the UPA Government has given us its full backing.

But the biggest achievements that I would claim are: (a) changing the mindset of the people from a state of depression to optimism, and (b) changing the perception and image of Assam outside. Assam is no longer a land of ‘lahe lahe’ (laid-back attitude) and frequent bandhs. The younger generation is dreaming big, beginning to work hard, is willing to take risks and become successful in life. People outside too are changing their opinion about Assam. Insurgency is beginning to become a thing of the past, and big (industrial) houses are eyeing Assam as their next destination for investment. But I am clear about one thing: I am not for uprooting farmers to set up big industries. We welcome eco-friendly industries and units based on natural resources which do not disturb the environment. Assam, after all, is still one of the greenest states in the country.