Major Shift in Karimganj: Jayanta Mallah Baruah Opens Co-Districts in Ramkrishna Nagar and Patharkandi

With time, everything evolves, and the government of Assam has embraced this by implementing changes in the administrative system. Co-districts a new administrative step is set to streamline governance and improve service delivery. In total, 39 co-districts will be established across the state during the first phase of its implementation and today, two of these co-districts from Barak Valley’s Karimganj district—Ramkrishna Nagar and Patharkandi—were officially inaugurated.

Today marked a significant day for the residents of Karimganj district, as the Assam government inaugurated two new co-districts in the region—Ramkrishna Nagar and Patharkandi. The inauguration took place in the presence of Minister Jayanta Mallah Baruah, who emphasised the importance of this new structure in improving accessibility to government services.

In Ramkrishna Nagar, Minister Baruah formally opened the new co-district office, with the ceremony performed according to Vedic rituals and traditional customs. The large gathering saw local residents participating enthusiastically, reflecting the community’s excitement. During his speech, the minister highlighted that people will no longer need to travel to the district headquarters for smaller administrative tasks. These will now be handled at the co-district office, bringing convenience to the residents.

Addressing the media, Baruah mentioned that the inauguration coincided with the auspicious second day of Navratri, making it a particularly significant occasion. He further stressed that the new administrative framework of co-districts will benefit the people by bringing government services closer to their homes. According to him, the new system is more efficient than the subdivisions.

Ramkrishna Nagar, a long-standing aspiration of the local residents for better administrative support, now stands as a co-district headquarters. Minister Baruah stated that while the community initially wanted a subdivision, this co-district structure will serve them even better. He reassured that there would be little difference in functionality between a district headquarters and a co-district headquarters, with most public services and development initiatives being managed locally.

The introduction of co-districts is a part of Assam’s larger administrative overhaul. A total of 39 co-districts are being established across the state, and today saw the inauguration of 21 of them in 14 different districts. Tomorrow, the remaining 18 co-districts will be officially opened in 11 more districts, as the state moves towards completing this large-scale transformation.

The concept of co-districts is new in India, with Assam being the first state to adopt this model. The government’s aim is to decentralise governance, making it easier for people to access public services without having to travel long distances to the main district headquarters.

Minister Baruah also mentioned that these co-districts would oversee people-centric development projects such as those funded by the MLA or MP funds. He assured that this new system will lead to smoother functioning and better service delivery in areas like Ramkrishna Nagar.