Silchar, Jan. 15: The sesquicentennial celebration of Cachar district, which was formed in 1867, kicked off here today.
To mark the occasion, a rally was taken out in the morning from the premises of the Cachar deputy commissioner, S. Viswanathan's office.
The deputy commissioner also laid the foundation stone of a bridge connecting the DC office and Unanyan Bhawan here and a staff recreation centre.
Viswanathan said they had chalked out a series of programmes, which will conclude on March 15. He added that they would urge chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to be present at the concluding function.
Cachar was declared a district on January 15, 1867. Robert Stewart was the first deputy commissioner.
Viswanathan said they would invite all the deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners who had served Cachar district to be felicitated.
Assam PWD minister Parimal Suklavaidya, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said the state government was working relentlessly to bring development in Barak Valley.
Silchar MP Sushmita Dev urged Suklavaidya to extend the East-West corridor project to Imphal from Silchar for the larger benefits of Barak Valley.
Awareness drive: The Hailakandi district administration has launched a drive to create awareness among the tea garden workers on cashless transaction in collaboration with bankers, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and other NGOs.
Awareness programmes have been carried out in Vernerpur, South Cachar, Bondukmara and Norsingpur tea estates. Similar exercises will be conducted in Aenakhal, Kanchanpur, Monipur and Cutlacherra tea gardens on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hailakandi district labour officer Alimuddin Barbhuiya said training has been imparted to panchayat leaders and NGOs, including labour welfare officials of tea gardens.
"At the training programmes bank officials impart training to the ward group members about various ways in which cashless transactions can take place," Barbhuiya said, adding, "We have issued directions to the NGOs to reach out to the plantation workers and explain the procedure through which cashless transactions can be done."
