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Guwahati: In a significant move, the Himanta Cabinet in Assam has given its approval to the ‘Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024’, aiming to crack down on the practices of “magical healing” disguised as medical treatment. The bill proposes stringent punitive measures against individuals engaging in such practices, targeting congenital diseases like deafness, dumbness, blindness, physical deformities, and autism.
The decision to approve the bill was made during a meeting of the Council of ministers chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The proposed legislation intends to put an end to magical healing sessions that exploit the vulnerable and extort money from the underprivileged under the guise of treatment.
Alongside the bill, the cabinet discussed a dedicated sustainable development program for 10 cities/towns in the state. The concept, known as ‘Doh Shaher-Ek Rupayan,’ focuses on key aspects such as solid waste management, clean water supply, traffic management, urban planning, and capacity building. Additionally, reforms in the state municipal cadres, defined by amending the Assam Municipal Act 1956, were approved.
The cabinet also gave the green light to the ‘Assam Village Defence Organisation (Amendment) Bill, 2024’, aiming to improve the functioning of VDOs. Administrative efficiency will be boosted through the creation of 352 additional posts in the Assam Secretariat Service and Assam Secretariat Subordinate Services.
In a bid to promote tourism and showcase Northeast’s biodiversity, the cabinet approved the establishment of a Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre at Namdang Reserved Forest under the Dibrugarh Forest Division. Estimated at Rs 259 crore, the center is expected to become a major tourist attraction in the region.
