Vision Document

VISION FOR BONGAIGAON DISTRICT, 2001-2006

THE ESSENCE : An over enthusiastic vision without in-depth assessment of the hard ground realities is a dream and the objectives are mere hallucinations.

THE CHALLENGE : The hard constraints that put up a hazy smoke-screen in front of the vision are – scarce resources in Govt. sector, disproportionate ratio of non-utilization of funds, psychological apathy of youths – towards self-employment venture, surface communication bottlenecks, lack of marketing support, uncooperative banking sector, prevailing insurgency scenario amongst others.

THE REQUIREMENTS :Nevertheless a clear perspective, clarity of goals, strong determination, ceaseless and untiring effort and greater peoples participation in the process are the key to success for translating the vision document into action.

Vision Projects till 2003-2005

   To develop the district into a major Pig rearing district a major thrust area in the Vision Document prepared from 2001-2006. In continuation to the activities undertaken till March ending, 2003 the focus of the District Administration would be towards developing the district into a major Pig rearing district keeping in mind the demand for raw meat for processing in the Tribal Cooperative Piggery Farm and Allied Industry, Dhaligaon by –

1. Organizing traditional Pig Rearer Farms into viable Self-Help Groups and put them into economic activities.
2. 100 nos. of Piggery Self-Help Groups have been formed during 2001-2003
3. Formation of 200 nos. of Piggery Self Help Groups mostly comprising women folk by December, 2003.
4. Completion of Credit Linkage at the year end of 2004.

Setting up of a Milk Processing Plant with a processing capacity of 3000-5000 ltrs. P.D. at Lengtisinga under North Salmara Sub-Division

(a)    Formation of 100 nos. of Cattle rearing Self-Help Groups and to put them to economic activities. Already 40 nos. of such           Self-Help Groups have already been formed during 2001-03(ending June)
(b)   To provide self-employment to poor families through forming SHGs in and around the Project area.
(c)   Providing Credit Linkage.
(d)   To create direct employment opportunities to 30 nos. while providing indirect employment to 1000 members.
(e)   Help the producer to increase milk production, stabilize price and increase their profit from milk and milk products.
(f)    To provide hygienic pasteurized milk and by product to the consumers.
(g)   Building up infrastructure like chilling plant combined pasteurize and filpack / totrapack machine and milk face for              procurement and distribution purposes.

Source of funding :

    Grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Food Processing etc. Department/ infrastructure grants available under SGSY.

To bring 350 hectares area under plantation of high yielding varieties of Coconut in community farming backyard involving National Horticultural Board/Coconut Development Board, Abhayapuri and to implement by the Agricultural department.

1. Achievement in the first year (2002-2003) – 52 hectares (7840 seedlings), Target fixed for the current year (2003-2004) –      75 hectares (11250 nos. of seedlings).
2. Area identification completed in March, 2003 .
3. Plantation- March & October from 2003 onwards.
4. Expected commencement of production after 7 years of completion.

    To organize the unorganized Citrus and other fruit growers of the district and to encourage the growers to grow improved varieties of Litchi, Orange, Mango etc. which has high demand and more value with technical and financial support through NHB, State Agricultural Department under the Scheme like Technology Mission.

1. Achievement in the first year (2002-2003) :
(A)    Mousambi : 2 hects. (B) Orange – 15 hects. (C) Lemon – 27 hects. = Total 44 hectares.
2. Area identification : 2003 completed. Target fixed for the second year (2003-2004) – (A) Orange – 30 hects. (B) Lemon – 50 hects. (C) Litchi- 10 hects. (D) Mausambi – 30 hetcs. = Total 120 hectares.
3. Plantation : April to June/ Area identification from 2003.
4. Expected commencement of production : after 5 years of completion.

Establishment of Krishi Bigyan Kendra under I.C.A.R. with the objective of :

1. Training to Farmers.
2. Frontline demonstration.
3. Training to Extension Officer and workers of Agricultural Department on farm trial.

    Preliminary works like site selection by the Scientists deputed from Agricultural University, Jorhat has already been completed. The required land for setting up of Krishi Bigyan Kendra will be made on receipt of detailed proposal from I.C.A.R.

Block Rubber Plantation and Establishment of a Model Rubber Processing Centre at North Salmara in Bongaigaon district.

    The District of Bongaigaon has wide scope of expansion of Rubber cultivation. It is estimated that out of a total area of 21590 hects. about 10000 to 15000 hectares of suitable land would be available for expansion of Rubber. For properly nourished integrated farming system taking Rubber as main crop can improve the rural economy to a great extent. At present there are about 150 nos. of small growers cultivating Rubber covering an area of approximately 200 acres. It is with the aim to provide rural employment the District Administration in collaboration with Rubber Board, Govt. of India is going ahead with block plantation of Rubber through Self-Help Groups in North Salmara Sub-Division. Survey is being conducted to ascertain Govt. Khas land and Waste land for allotment to various SHGs to take on to plantation. However, land measuring 2 bighas has already been settled in favour of the Rubber Grower Society, North Salmara, by the District Administration.

    At the same time to give a fillip to the ongoing Rubber cultivation a project is proposed to provide basic infrastructure to already existing Rubber growers for enhanced productivity and marketing. The District authority of Bongaigaon, the Rubber Board and Rubber Growers Society have jointly sponsored the project. The project will involve an expenditure of nearly Rs. 12.00 lakhs where DRDA share is 20%, rest of the funding will be made by the Rubber Board. Already Rubber Board, Govt. of India have accorded sanction for Rs. 7.56 lakhs as a part of the contribution in setting up of the project. The proposed Rubber Processing Centre will help producing quality sheet which is expected to fetch good price to the farmers and may open up avenue for export to neighboring countries.

SIRD sponsored Demonstration cum Selling units at SIRD Extension Centre at Abhayapuri.

    With a view to provide training and technology support service to the needy unemployed youths, Self-Help Groups of the district of Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Dhubri, the SIRD in coordination with the District Administration, Bongaigaon has proposed setting up of -

(1) Poultry Hutchery for development of Poultry sector with a Brooding Centre.
(2) A Spawn Laboratory for production of quality Mushroom seeds.
(3) An Eco-Hutchery Plant for production of quality fish seeds.
(4) A project for Fodder cultivation with a view to develop Diary Farming in Lengtisinga under North Salmara Sub-Division.

    The above mentioned activities in addition to creating required sensitization for self-employment venture would be aimed at providing training and technology services and availability of quality inputs to SHGs at fairly reasonable price. Already preliminary steps for building up requisite infrastructure for above activities have already been taken.

Implementation of Project “Muga Biplab”.

    It is proposed to bring an area of approximately 600 acres of land under Som plantation involving 60 nos. of traditional Muga rearing groups covering Sidli, Borobazar, Boitamari and Srijangram Development Blocks. A detailed Project report for implementing the scheme has been got prepared.

Setting up of Multi Purpose 5000 TPD Cold Storage at Bongaigaon under private sector at the initiative of M/S Fengkha Cold Storage Ltd., Kishanbazar, Bongaigaon.

    Already a Techno-Economic feasibility report on the Project has been prepared by M/S Refcom Project Consultancy Division, Kolkata at an estimated cost of Rs. 238.83 lakhs. The Project report is under the appraisal of State Bank of India for term loan facility. The District Administration, Bongaigaon has already taken steps for settlement of suitable plot of land in favour of M/S Fengkha Cold Storage.

Industrial Growth Centre:

    It is proposed to take up a new Industrial Growth Centre in the area of approximately 100 bighas nearby BRPL Complex, Dhaligaon along the National High Way for which fund will be provided by the A.I.D.C.

Mohila Bank :

    After formation of 1200 self-help groups in the name of PROCHESTA in the district of Bongaigaon, the present situation shows a different face. Now that PROCHESTA has started on lending to the groups, the members has been utilizing the money productively. They are using the loan to start their own enterprises like – Weaving, Poultry Farming, Petty Shops, Tailoring Shops and other achieving a degree of success. By this time after completing 5 years, the members have gained confidence to voice their own choice – their dream that some day PROCHESTA will emerge as a womens’ bank. This has another reasons – usually the banking sector is not sympathetically inclined towards the small, rural customers. This again may be due to a number of reasons. The demand has therefore come up to turn PROCHESTA into a bank. The Zilla Saksharata Samity is now working towards establishment of a women Bank during the year 2003-2004. A concept paper has also been prepared in this regard by the SCR, Assam.

Construction of Mini Stadium at Chapaguri and Kinaborgaon under Bongaigaon Sub-Division and Bhetagaon under Bijni Sub-Division. The Projects sanctioned under Prime Minister’s package

Completion of ongoing works of Bongaigaon Eco-Park near Bongaigaon College by August, 2003

Bongaigaon Town Water Supply Project :

    Bongaigaon town whose status was elevated as the Head Quarter of the District of Bongaigaon and having a strong population of 60,550 souls having 25 Municipal Wards is facing acute scarcity of safe drinking water. The existing sources of water are unable to fulfill the demand of potable water both in terms of quantity and quality. To overcome this chronic problem and to fulfill the basic demands of the citizens a Project is being taken up through Municipal Administration to establish and organize Water Supply Project with modern technology. The Project once taken up and completed will noticeably reduce the occurrence of water borne diseases and shall uplift the socio-economic condition of Bongaigaon town.

Creation/Development of 4 (four) area specific Eco-Restoration and Tourism Projects in the district namely - (1) Bamungaon Eco-Restoration and Tourism Project, Abhayapuri (2) Tamranga Bihanga Behar near Jogighopa, (3) Jogighopa Historical site Eco-Tourism Project and lastly Bagheswari Hill Eco-Restoration and Tourism Project is a remarkable achievement both in terms of creation of sustainable infrastructure, creating peoples concern for conservation of environment and more importantly peoples wholehearted acceptance of the projects undertaken. Considering the success of the Projects, District Administration has decided to take up additional need based activities for implementation in the current financial year.

Source of funding:Zilla Parishad’s share under S.G.R.Y.

The vision plan 2001-2006 was reviewed and a fresh vision Project –2003-2005 was prepared on 15th August/2003.

1) Setting up of a Milk Processing Plant with a processing capacity of 3000-5000 ltrs. P.D. at Lengtisinga under North Salmara Sub-Division

2) To bring 350 hectares area under
plantation of high yielding varieties of Coconut in community farming backyard involving National Horticultural Board/Coconut Development Board, Abhayapuri and to implement by the Agricultural department.

3) Block Rubber Plantation and Establishment of a Model Rubber Processing Centre at North Salmara in Bongaigaon district.

4) SIRD sponsored Demonstration cum Selling units at SIRD Extension Centre at Abhayapuri
.
5)Implementation of Project “Muga Biplab”.

    It is proposed to bring an area of approximately 600 acres of land under Som plantation involving 60 nos. of traditional Muga rearing groups covering Sidli, Borobazar, Boitamari and Srijangram Development Blocks. A detailed Project report for implementing the scheme has been got prepared.

6) Setting up of Multi Purpose 5000 TPD Cold Storage at Bongaigaon under private sector at the initiative of M/S Fengkha Cold Storage Ltd., Kishanbazar, Bongaigaon.

7) Industrial Growth Centre:
    It is proposed to take up a new Industrial Growth Centre in the area of approximately 100 bighas nearby BRPL Complex, Dhaligaon along the National High Way for which fund will be provided by the A.I.D.C.

8) Mohila Bank:

The Bongaigaon dist. Administration in collaboration with the Zilla Saksharata Samity is now working towards establishment of a women Bank during the year 2003-2004. A concept paper has also been prepared in this regard by the SCR, Assam.

9) Construction of Mini Stadium at Chapaguri and Kinaborgaon under Bongaigaon Sub-Division and Bhetagaon under Bijni Sub-Division. The Projects sanctioned under Prime Minister’s package
10) Completion of ongoing works of Bongaigaon Eco-Park near Bongaigaon College by August, 2003