Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sivasagar, Assam on Saturday, ANI reported. He lauded the state government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed confidence that “Assam will take forward the vaccination drive.”

“I appeal to all to get vaccinated,” Modi said.

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The Central government launched the nationwide vaccination drive against the coronavirus on January 16 and has inoculated 1,390,592 people, as per the Union Health Ministry’s latest data.

At Sivasagar, the PM distributed 106,000 land allotment certificates to indigenous people, ANI reported.

Modi said his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government “has always kept the preservation of the Assamese culture at its foremost intention behind implementing policies including the protection of the Assamese language and promotion of its literature.”

“The fast-paced development of Assam in very important to us,” the PM said.

“The way to ‘Atmanirbhar Assam’ is through ‘Atmavishwaas’ (self-confidence) among the people here,” Modi added.

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The PM said 40% of Assam’s population is taking benefit of ‘Ayushmaan Bharat’ scheme of the Central government. Ayushman Bharat is the Centre’s health protection scheme to provide health insurance to citizens.

“The Centre-state double engine government is working to supply running water to all the households of the state,” the PM said.

He also spoke about the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. “The country has decided to celebrate this day as ‘Parakram Diwas’. His life gives us inspiration even today,” he said. Bose was born on January 23, 1897.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was present at the event, said that the PM “is the biggest well-wisher of Assam and its people” and that “the development of the state and the northeast region is due to his support,” ANI reported.

“Assam and northeast got due attention from the central government and made unprecedented progress during the last six years,” Sonowal said, before thanking the “PM for giving the region a new direction in terms of growth and inclusive development.”