Assam MP Biswajit Daimary Advocates for 'Rural Lifestyle' amid Corona Crisis

Guwahati, April 20, 2020:

A "rural lifestyle" has found its latest advocate in Bodoland People's Front (BPF) leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, Biswajit Daimary.

Talking to Inside Northeast, Daimary said for the coming one year, people should focus on developing an agrarian economy as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the world. "Assam will not be heedless. If spurning our city lifestyle, we return our village roots, we can achieve much", Daimary said, indicating that a resurgence of agriculture in the state could be in the offing, as the economy continues taking hits amid the coronavirus.

Daimary said that the buying and selling of goods should be conducted within the 3.5 crore people in the state. "If Bhutan, a country of 6 lakh can run an Airlines service, why Assam, with such manpower of 3.5 crore people, why can we not do?", he said.

Opining that it is not entirely a "bad thing" that thousands could be headed back to Assam amid the lockdown, Daimary said that all of the those who return amid the coronavirus could be future participants in his proposed "rural lifestyle".

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Talking on the lines of the 4 lakh or so people who have given missed calls seeking help from the Govt, Daimary said monitoring of any returnees should be carried out at the village level. "It is not possible for the Government for arrange for their monitoring. Thus, the villagers and their own families should own the responsibility ensuring that these people if and when they return are closely monitored."

Daimary further said that these people, who could potentially be looking for employment, should be encouraged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other local industries focused on growing food.

Stressing on the need for a rural lifestyle, Daimary said, "We should enjoy the things that we used to do. Why should we dance in bars when we can dance in the village fields instead?", he said.

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