Guwahati, Feb 16: Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Monday addressed the state assembly, highlighting the government’s progress in inclusive development, law enforcement, and regional security. His 40-minute speech marked the opening of the Budget session, which saw disruptions from opposition protests.

Acharya outlined key achievements since 2021. The state has deported 1,517 illegal foreigners, enforced the Immigration (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, and resolved 59,757 Foreigners’ Tribunal cases, declaring 30,264 individuals as foreigners.

Assam has also seen a significant reduction in crime, with overall offenses dropping 72% and crimes against women declining 87% between 2021 and 2025. Enforcement under the NDPS Act led to 14,503 cases, 23,000 arrests, and drug seizures worth over Rs 2,900 crore. Child marriages have decreased sharply, by 84% for girls under 18 and 91% for boys under 19, supporting the goal of a child marriage-free state by 2026.

The government cleared 1.45 lakh bighas of encroached land, including forest and government property, while anti-corruption efforts intensified through 240 trap operations, resulting in 294 arrests, far exceeding the previous decade’s 76 cases.

Boundary disputes with neighbouring states advanced, with six areas settled with Meghalaya under a 2022 MoU and 243.8 km surveyed with Arunachal Pradesh under a 2023 pact. The Vibrant Villages Programme now covers 140 border villages with Bangladesh and Bhutan.

On economic and social fronts, 1.56 lakh government jobs were created, and youth and women entrepreneurship initiatives expanded. Assam was ranked India’s fastest-growing state according to RBI data, achieving 85% budget utilization with Rs 1.43 lakh crore spent in 2024-25. Progress was also reported in health, education, infrastructure, flood control, land reforms, culture, tourism, and welfare for tea tribes and Adivasis.

This assembly session is the government’s last before the March-April elections.