Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday said that for overall development and to reduce poverty, immigrant Muslim community should adopt a proper family planning policy to control population.
Talking to newsmen after completing one month in office, Sarma said that the ever-rising population, especially among minority communities has put pressure on the resources as space is getting constrained.
The Chief Minister said that minority associations in the state should suggest ways to the government in alleviating poverty in the community which according to him was due to a continuous increase in the population.
He urged stakeholders in minority communities to encourage people to focus on population control.
Sarma also said that the government will aim to educate women of the community to effectively tackle the issue.
Countering opposition to eviction carried out by the government in forest lands and temple lands amid pandemic, Sarma said that the government is against the encroachment of temple lands, Satra and forest lands.
He said that community members have assured the government that they do not want encroachment on these lands.
He said that the government is committed to protect the lands of Satras and temples and will take every step to ensure to protect Assam’s land, identity, culture, language and heritage from illegal migrants.
