Assam to invest ₹1.5 lakh cr in infra in 5 yrs: Himanta

Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a ₹1.5 lakh crore investment in infrastructure over the next five years, with ₹50,000 crore coming from the state's own resources. Speaking during Independence Day celebrations, Sarma appealed to Assam's residents to identify as Assamese in census data, with an exception for those from the Barak Valley and tribal communities.

The CM emphasized the state's transformation from "chai" to "chip" and pledged to focus on roads, schools, urban development, and rural growth. Sarma also announced the formation of a new Youth Development and Empowerment department and eight new co-districts. The state's economy has tripled in a decade, despite lacking natural resources like Odisha and having faced decades of insurgency.

Sarma also condemned the recent floods and announced a 30-day special crackdown on child marriage, vowing to eradicate underage weddings and polygamy.