PM inaugurates cancer care centre, says govt committed to develop NE

Diphu/Tinsukia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Centre will work more for the development of the northeast which couldn’t be achieved earlier. 

The Prime Minister is in Assam to lay the foundation stones of several projects.

Addressing the ‘Peace, Unity and Development Rally’ at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District, Prime Minister Modi said, “In the Amrit Kaal of Azadi, Karbi Anglong is also moving towards a new future of peace and development. Now from here we don’t have to look back. In the coming few years, together we have to make up for the development, which we could not be achieved earlier.”

During the programme, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Veterinary College (Diphu), Degree College in West Karbi Anglong and Agricultural College at Kolonga in West Karbi Anglong. 

These projects, worth more than Rs 500 crore, will bring new opportunities for skilling and employment in the region. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for more than 2,950 Amrit Sarovar projects. The state will develop these Amrit Sarovars at a cumulative cost of around Rs 1,150 crore. 

The Prime Minister also thanked the people of Karbi Anglong for their warm welcome. He noted the coincidence of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and 400th Anniversary of the great son of Assam Lachit Borphukan, which falls in the same time period. “Lachit Borphukan’s life is an inspiration of patriotism and Rashtra Shakti. I salute this great hero of the country from Karbi Anglong,” the Prime Minister said.

The PM also said that the ‘double engine’ government is working with the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas. “Today this resolve has been reinforced on this land of Karbi Anglong. The work of carrying out the agreement that was signed for the permanent peace and rapid development of Assam is going on at a brisk pace,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that solution to border problems is being sought in the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. “The agreement reached between Assam and Meghalaya will encourage settlement of border issue with others states as well,” he said. 

Talking about the rich cultural heritage of the tribal communities, the Prime Minister said, “The culture of tribal society, its language, food, art, handicrafts, all these are the rich heritage of India. Assam is even more prosperous in this respect. This cultural heritage connects India, strengthens the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.”

Governor of Assam, Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present.

In Dibrugarh, the PM dedicated seven cancer care hospitals to the nation, including the Dibrugarh Cancer Centre in Upper Assam, as part of the Assam Cancer Care Foundation project.

The development has come as one of the biggest boosts to cancer care in the Northeastern region of the country that has been lagging behind most states when it comes to health infrastructure.

Assam Cancer Care Foundation Project, a joint venture of the government of Assam and Tata Trusts, is executing a project to build South Asia’s most affordable cancer care network. Out of the total 17 cancer hospitals, a total of 10 centres are coming up under phase 1 with seven already completed and three centres are at various stages of construction. Phase 2 will witness construction of seven new cancer centres.

Greeting Rongali Bihu and Assamese New Year in local dialect to an astounding crowd at Khanikar field, Modi said, “I feel myself fortunate enough to get this opportunity to give pace to the development of Assam amid such enthusiasm and the festival season.”

“With these new hospitals, cancer treatment is set become very affordable, paving way for Assam to become the largest hub for cancer treatment in the entire South Asia,” Modi said.

“I will pray that our new hospitals remain empty, and the need for people to Assam to go to hospital never arise,” Modi said, adding, “In case the need arises, we are ready to take care of our people.”

Taking a dig on the grand-old Congress party, without naming it, Modi said there was a time when if one hospital would have got ready in seven years, it would be an occasion for celebration.

“Now the time has changed; seven hospitals have been inaugurated in a single day, work of three other are near to completion and foundation stone has been laid for seven more hospitals.”

Modi said, this massive facility for cancer treatment is of great
essence in Assam and entire Northeast that has been struggling with cancer with huge numbers of patients being detected from this region. 

A Tata Trusts spokesperson had earlier said that three more such cancer care facilities are in an advanced stage of completion and will be opened later this year.

He said the 17 medical facilities, the “largest” network under cancer control model of Tata Trusts, will serve 50,000 people annually not only from Assam but also from neighbouring states.

With PTI input

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