Assam Chief Minister gets coveted Singapore fellowship
India`s Assam state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said a fellowship received by him from Singapore academic institution is a recognition of Assam`s rising international reputation. Sarma recently received the esteemed Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public service. The Singapore government invited the chief minister of Assam to come as a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow in recognition of his potential contributions to the development of India and for improving bilateral relations with Singapore. The fellowship was established in the name of Lee Kuan Yew`s contributions to the country as Singapore`s first prime minister. The fellowship is under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Singapore. Sarma is the first Chief Minister of Assam to get this distinguished award. Other recipients include former Union Minister Arun Shourie, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and former Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.