In News:

Assam has launched an innovative administrative initiative by inaugurating 21 'co-districts' as part of its Phase 1 rollout, which began on Friday and will extend into Saturday, ultimately introducing a total of 39 co-districts. This new structure replaces the previous system of 24 civil sub-divisions, aiming to bring governance closer to the citizens.

About the Co-District Initiative

• Structure: Co-districts serve as smaller administrative units within the larger district framework, each headed by an Assistant District Commissioner.
• Objective: This unique initiative, the first of its kind in India, seeks to enhance accessibility to governance and address administrative challenges faced by district administrations.
• Scope: The government plans to establish co-district offices in all 126 assembly constituencies in Assam.

Functions and Powers

The co-districts will handle a variety of important functions, including:

• Land Revenue Matters: Managing land-related issues and revenue collection.
• Development and Welfare Work: Overseeing development projects and welfare programs.
• Excise and Disaster Management: Addressing excise-related matters and coordinating disaster response efforts.
• Administrative Control: Co-districts will have authority over all departmental activities within their jurisdiction.
• Magisterial Powers: Commissioners will be empowered to issue permissions for events and manage other administrative tasks.
• Routine Administrative Tasks: Responsibilities include issuing ration cards, caste certificates, and land sale permissions.