PM announced special package for Assam, inaugurates TCS training centre 

Guwahati, Aug 26: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh while rounding up his two day visit to Assam today announced a special package for the state.  

As per the package the government of India will set up a World-Class University in Assam and that the Assam government will provide suitable land required for the project. 

He has also announced allocation of Rs. 20 crores as additional Central assistance for Majuli river island. 

Singh has also promised that North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) will be suitably reworked so as to provide maximum advantage and to attract investment from outside. 

In a statement issued Dr Singh further informed that the centre flood control measures for and integrated development of Majuli river island will be accorded high priority and adequate funds will be provided for the purpose. A high level monitoring Group, with representatives of the Central Government, the State Government and the Satradhikars (head of Vaishnavite monasteries) will also be  set up to guide the process.  

The Central Government will provide additional assistance of Rs. 250 crore for the integrated development of the Bodoland Territorial Copuncil (BTC), the statement said adding that the state government would prepare and submit a plan for the integrated infrastructure development in other autonomous Councils of North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts.  

The Prime Minister also announced setting up of Centre of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, a National Design Institute at Guwahati on the pattern of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and assured that the centre would assist the Assam government in establishing a state-level University of Science and Technology as well as a Law School and Judicial Academy in Assam.  

Two India Reserve Battalions (IRB) would be raised mainly to guard the riverine border, the statement said while adding that the Centre will help to train them and also provide specialized equipment. The Border Security Force (BSF) will provide fixed Border Out Posts (BOPs) in riverine areas to strengthen riverine patrolling. 

As requested by the Chief Minister of Assam, the Prime Minister has assured to enhance the Central share in important schemes for rural areas, in the areas of rural water supply and rural sanitation, to 90 percent for the benefit of Assam as also the other North Eastern States. 

Singh has also announced that the Union Tourism Ministry will make a blue print for the integrated development of tourism for the North East, with Guwahati as the hub.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the new training centre of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) at IIT-Guwahati campus here. 

Making no speech at the venue, Dr Singh unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and took a tour of the training facility. TCS CEO and Managing Director S Ramadorai said the new centre will conduct the company's initial learning programme for fresh engineering graduates and provide world-class training and research facilities. 

“The students will be taken to different TCS projects,'' he said. TCS, the leading IT services, business solutions and outsourcing organisation, was the first Indian IT company to invest in the Northeast, Ramadorai said. 

Company's vice-president and head of global human resource division Ajoy Mukherjee said about 300 students have already been trained at the TCS Guwahati centre since March 2008. “This initiative will help link talent from the Northeast to the fast-growi ng Indian IT industry,'' he said. 

The trainees at the new centre will have access to all facilities at the IIT campus including class rooms, library, sports and recreational facilities. TCS manages e-governance projects in the State, including digitisation of the Assam Treasury and Assa m Public Works department to enhance transparency and efficiency in their functioning. 

A part of the country's largest industrial conglomerate Tata Group, TCS has over 116,000 of world's IT consultants in 50 countries and generated consolidated revenues of $5.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008