Boko: The newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kamrup District, Deba Kumar Mishra, visited Lampi in Boko, near the Assam-Meghalaya border, on Saturday. Mishra officially took charge of Kamrup on September 21, 2024, after previously serving as the DC of Sonitpur District.
The visit was conducted alongside key officials, including Boko Revenue Circle Officer Divas Bardoloi, Boko Block Development Officer Gangotri Neog, RHAC General Member Arjun Chetri, and Rangia Sub-Division Officer Devashish Goswami.
Mishra’s visit took him to Upper Lampi, the last village along the Assam-Meghalaya border, located approximately 28 kilometers from Boko, accessible via Kampadoli village.
Interaction with locals
At the end of the inspection, Mishra had tea with local residents in Lower Lampi and engaged in discussions about the area’s infrastructure challenges.
Residents raised long-standing issues with the Commissioner, highlighting their demand for high and higher secondary schools, ambulances for the remote hilly areas, internet connectivity, and solutions to ongoing drinking water problems.
The residents also expressed concern over the lack of government presence in the area since independence, citing that apart from the village headman, there have been no government employees stationed in Lampi due to the lack of higher education opportunities.
Critical healthcare challenges
With a population of around 4,000 spread across seven villages in the Lampi area, residents emphasized the serious challenges patients, including expectant mothers, face in accessing healthcare in the remote, mountainous regions.
Due to the absence of quality medical care in Lampi, people are forced to travel to Boko Primary Health Center for emergency treatment and maternity care. As a result, locals stressed the urgent need for an ambulance service in the area.
Network and water issues
Compounding the healthcare crisis, poor network connectivity has made it difficult for residents to seek help in emergencies. Boko Block Development Officer Gangotri Neog noted that approximately four MGNREGA schemes have not been implemented due to network issues, further hampering development efforts.
Residents also voiced their dissatisfaction with the Jal Jeevan Mission, explaining that they have not received water supply through the initiative to date.
Assurance from the commissioner
In response to these concerns, DC Mishra assured the residents that he would review the issues raised and take appropriate steps to resolve them in the near future.
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