One week, one promise kept: Himanta Biswa Sarma ensures home for Sonatali resident

A week after an emotionally charged appeal at a public meeting in Boko, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s assurance to provide a house to a physically challenged man from Sonatali has been fulfilled, drawing both appreciation and political debate.

On December 5, Kurpan Ali, a differently abled resident of Bor Arikati village in Sonatali under the Samaria constituency, directly approached the Chief Minister during a public programme. In a moving appeal, Ali sought support for housing and welfare assistance, stating that a secure home would allow him to live with dignity and peace.

Responding swiftly, the Chief Minister ensured that the request was processed without delay. Within a week, Kurpan Ali was allotted a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The house was formally inaugurated on Thursday by BJP district-level functionaries in the presence of local residents.

Kurpan Ali, who has lost one leg and one eye, had also sought benefits under the Arunodoi scheme along with financial assistance. Following the fulfilment of the Chief Minister’s assurance, he expressed deep gratitude and emotional relief, describing the support as life-changing.

While the development has been welcomed by many as an example of responsive governance and welfare delivery, it has also triggered a wider public debate. Questions are being raised over whether the allotment should be viewed purely as a humanitarian welfare measure or if it carries political implications, especially with the 2026 Assembly elections on the horizon.

Across the region, residents and civil society voices have urged that the issue should not be politicised, emphasising that welfare schemes are meant to serve the needy irrespective of political considerations. The discussion continues to generate attention, reflecting the broader discourse on governance, accountability, and the role of welfare in electoral politics.