A unique first: Assam forms 39 Co-Districts

 A unique first: Assam forms 39 Co-Districts

To create smaller administrative units below the district level for timely access to essential Government services and streamlining citizen centric services by bringing governance to the grassroots, the State Government has rolled out 39 Co- Districts in an administrative rejig. With this initiative, Assam became the first State in the country to have co–districts.

The Co-Districts will have jurisdiction on the services like land revenue, administrative and magisterial powers, food and civil supplies, excise, disaster management, development and welfare work of the people.

Key highlights:

1) Under the new framework, the role of the Additional District Commissioner, who was previously in charge of the sub-districts, has been elevated to Co-District Commissioner (CDC).

2)The Co-Districts have been referred to as "Sama-Zilla" in Assamese, and the Co-District Commissioner will be known as "Sama-Zilla Aayukta" in the regional language.

3)  From October 4, 2024 onwards, 39 co - districts in 21 districts in the State have been functional. From now on, people will no longer have to visit the DC office for all Government work. Their work can be sorted out at the level of the Co-District office.

4) Creating a Co-District office is an essential component of making districts the fulcrum of administration.

5) The new Co-Districts have been operating as semi-independent administrative units, working closely with the main district administration but with greater autonomy in decision making.

 

6)The move is part of the Government's larger vision of “Minimum

Government, Maximum Governance.”

Benefits: 

1)Strengthening the administration in grassroot level.

2) Decentralising power.