By: Aditya Ahuja
The Assam cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has approved the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, to address the issue of magical healing practices in the name of treatment.
Crackdown on ‘magical healing’ fraud
Announcing the decisions made during the cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah emphasized that the proposed bill aims to provide relief to victims of fraudulent magical treatments. In case of any individual found guilty of engaging in illegal practices under the guise of treatment or magic healing, the bill prescribes imprisonment and fines.
Specifically, the legislation targets practices claiming to treat congenital diseases such as deafness, dumbness, blindness, physical deformities, and autism. It seeks to entirely prohibit such healing sessions and impose stringent punitive measures against individuals exploiting vulnerable populations in the name of treatment.
Wildlife Safari & Rescue Centre approved
In addition to addressing magical healing, the state cabinet has given the green light to the establishment of the Wildlife Safari & Rescue Centre in Namdang Reserved Forest, Dibrugarh district.
This ambitious project, estimated at Rs 259 crore, aims to offer rescue and rehabilitation services for the region’s fauna.
The Wildlife Safari & Rescue Centre will feature international-standard safaris for herbivores, carnivores, and bird aviaries, alongside walking trails and other attractions set in a naturalistic environment. The facility will include a full-fledged veterinary unit to cater to the needs of animals. It is anticipated to become a hub for local and domestic tourists, employing around 100 skilled and unskilled staff.
Moreover, the centre is expected to have a positive economic impact on the lives of at least 50,000 people in the vicinity by creating employment opportunities through the provision of services and goods to visitors.
Ten cities development concept
Highlighting the commitment to sustainable urban development, the cabinet has endorsed the ‘Ten Cities Development Concept’ (Doh Shaher-Ek Rupayan), designating ten cities as ‘Lighthouses’ for other urban local bodies in the state. These cities – Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Tezpur, North-Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Silchar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and Haflong/Diphu – will serve as models for sustainable urban development.
Legislative measures for efficient urban administration
Additionally, the cabinet approved the Village Defence Organisation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and amendments to the Assam Municipal Act, 1956, with a focus on enhancing urban administration. The proposed bill seeks to define the roles and responsibilities of three state municipal cadres: Assam Urban Administrative Service, Assam Urban Engineering Service, and Assam Urban Financial Service.
Expansion of Assam Secretariat services
The Assam cabinet concluded its decisions by approving the creation of 352 new positions in the Assam Secretariat Service and the Assam Secretariat Subordinate Service, underscoring the government’s dedication to efficient governance. This move reflects a commitment to strengthening administrative capacities for more effective governance in the state.