Jorhat (Assam), Oct 27: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today claimed that the state would be in the list of the most economically developed states in the country by 2004. ''We have achieved more or less the agenda set by the election manifesto of the Congress and now we are spending double the amount than the previous government for developmental purpose,'' Gogoi said at a workshop on the role of gaon panchayat in the functioning of Health and Family Welfare Department.
He said the 'gaon panchayat' had played a pivotal role in grassroot development but now it had an additional responsibility to ensure the smooth functioning of the rural health sector.
He urged doctors and nurses to serve at least five years during their service tenure in the rural areas so that the people benefit from their services.
The Chief Minister also said that the government would introduce a new three-year rural medical course so that doctors could not avoid serving in the rural areas.
''It is only work culture and not bandh culture or gun culture that will lead to success'', he said.
Bureau Report