STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Asom Sattra Mahasabha (ASM) has welcomed the eviction drives taking place in the state to free forest and other lands from encroachers. The ASM has requested the State Government to free xatra lands from encroachers in mission mode.
The ASM held its 52nd conference recently at Baguwan in the Goalpara district. Speaking to The Sentinel after the conference, ASM general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta, who is also the Xatradhikar of Sri Sri Tarabari Kaalsila Xatra in the Morigaon district, said, “Representatives of xatras from all over the state were present at the 52nd ASM conference. The State Government formed a commission to look into the matter of encroachment on Xatra lands. The commission has already submitted its interim report to the government. The interim report has spelled out the gravity of the encroachment of Xatra land in the state. We have seen the administration free forests and other lands from encroachment. The administration has also freed the encroached lands of a xatra in the Barpeta district. It is the right time to free all Xatra lands from encroachment. Eviction drives after the monsoon will create problems.”
On xatra infrastructure, the Xatradhikar said, “The state has around 850 xatras that have not received any funds from the state government for the development of their infrastructure. Since the Xatriya culture has much to do with the survival of the Assamese culture, the Xatras should get priority. The State Government should announce a package for the xatras that have not received any funds from the government for the development of their infrastructure.”
On the security of people in some xatras, the Xatradhikar said, “Some of the xatras of the state are in isolated places. The people staying in such isolated xatras are under a security threat. The State Government should find a way out for the protection of such xatras and people staying there.”
The Xatradhikar also said that the 52nd ASM conference took many other important decisions, including the inclusion of the Xatriya dance in the academic curriculum in the state. “The State Government should initiate steps for the institution of a chair in the name of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev in the universities of the country. Each district of the state should have a kala bhawan in the name of Srimanta Sankardev,” he said.
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