by Dr. Gautam Lal Baruah

The residents of Chicagoland were delighted to host a most dynamic entrepreneurial politician from Assam – the honorable cabinet minister of health, family welfare, education and implementation of Assam Accord- Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 26th, 2012. Dr. Sarma was in USA as one out of four state ministers representing the whole of India in a fact finding mission on American Community colleges as a model for vocational institutes in India. He accepted the invitation from Dipak Kalita, who organized the event with help from others.

Many of us have heard about the laudable developmental work and initiatives implemented in Assam under the stewardship of Srijut Tarun Gogoi and Dr. Sarma over the last decade. The minister was introduced by Dipak Kalita and Gautam Lal Baruah spoke about his achievements. Local residents Dibakar Sundi, Bibhash Barua and Jaideep Barua shared their experiences and perspectives. Enakshi Baruah, Arundhati Barua, Kabita Sundi and Deepika Barua felicitated the minister with gamosa, bouquet and gifts.

Chief Minister Srijut Tarun Gogoi and Dr. Sarma have introduced landmark reforms like VAT, Financial Reform and Budget management act and Assam Entry tax. Over the last decade this has meant a paradigm shift in Assam. Finances from the center and ADB have multiplied and with the increase in revenues, Assam now has erased the deficit. It is at the take off stage in major infrastructure development. Dr. Sarma’s contributions to health, education and family welfare have been stupendous. For example, NRHM initiative, Asha and Mamta plans have facilitated healthcare throughout the state. The hospitals have seen great improvement with respect to availability of medicines.
The minister gave an erudite presentation about the progress, challenges and his vision of the future of Assam. Tracing the history of Assam over the last three decades, Dr. Sarma emphasized that Assam has now become the focal point of the center’s “Look East” policy and is receiving greater attention and funds for rapid development.

This is in keeping with the Indian geopolitical strategy of making Assam the conduit to far greater trade with Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Thailand etc. Dr. Sarma explained to the appreciative audience that his vision was to ensure that Assam leapfrogs to within the top five states of India by 2025. His modus operandii is to jump start the education system by hiring highly qualified school teachers and setting up a large number of medical and engineering colleges, other institutes of higher learning and vocational institutes. The idea is to make Assam a knowledge center of India and enhance its profile. This would strengthen the middle class and the greater buying power will eventually attract large private sector investments. This process has already picked up momentum with a highly computerized and transparent selection examination for school teachers and plans to set up medical and engineering colleges in all district headquarters.

The greatest challenge is the paucity of skillful local contracting companies who have the wherewithal to execute large infrastructural projects. In his introductory speech, Dr. Gautam Baruah had informed the minister that the Assamese community of North America has come of age and had within its ranks, experts in Project management, Computer industry, Healthcare and Engineering who had a strong desire to contribute to Assam’s development. Dr. Sarma reached out to the audience in Chicago and the larger Assamese community to do two things:
Convey good industrial practices prevalent in North America to Assam
Become an advocacy group for Assam with visiting dignitaries from India
Thereafter, Dr. Sarma and his wife and two children sat down for dinner and informal chats on a wide range of topics. The local residents were indeed fortunate to receive the unique first hand perspective about the tremendous development, plans and challenges of Assam. The evening ended with strong feeling of common purpose and very positive feelings about the direction in which Assam is moving.