Gogoi left behind empty coffers: Sonowal

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, May 25

Holding his first Cabinet meeting, Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal today decided to publish a White Paper within 10 days on the precarious state of government finances left behind by the previous Congress government.

Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said the cabinet deliberated on the financial health of the state besides other important issues. It was found that the financial condition of the state government was very bad, he added.

“The Cabinet, therefore, decided to bring out a White Paper on the precarious financial condition of the state government so that people get to know what the previous Congress government had left behind for the new government as regards financial health,” Suklabaidya said.

The Cabinet called upon all ministers to encourage austerity measures besides ensuring that the movement of their convoys did not cause inconvenience to the people. Sonowal has decided to reduce the number of vehicles in his convoy compared to that of his predecessor.

The Cabinet also decided to improve the efficiency and work culture in the government and facilitate expeditious clearance of government files on various issues.

It decided to do away with the practice of holding interview for filling government jobs at third and fourth grade level. The candidates for these posts would now be selected on the basis of their performance in the written examination.

Ministers Ranjit Dutta (cabinet rank) and Pallab Lochan Das (MoS) have announced that they would not use red beacons atop their official vehicles.