Assam Government urged to allow resumption of fairs and melas

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Fair owners have urged the State Government to grant permission for organizing fairs and melas in the State. With improvement in the COVID-19 scenario across the State and the government relaxing COVID restrictions, fair owners are hopeful that the government will permit to hold fairs and melas. They have also demanded the government to grant financial aid to fair companies.

Addressing a press conference in the city on Wednesday, All Assam Fair and Entertainment Owners' Welfare Association president Nirmal Chandra Sharma said, "There are around 50 mobile fair companies in Assam. Around 40,000-50,000, directly and indirectly, depend on these fair companies for their livelihood. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, these people have lost their livelihood because fairs and melas are not being held. Fair companies are facing financial hardships and so we urge the government to grant financial aid to fair companies."

He further said, "The government has eased COVID-19 restrictions and even allowed movie theatres to open and mobile theatres to stage shows. We, therefore, appeal to the government to allow fairs and melas to be organized also by following the necessary COVID protocol."

The Association had met State Cultural Affairs Bimal Borah earlier this month and submitted a memorandum to the Directorate of Cultural Affairs as directed by the minister. The Association has demanded the government to permit the resumption of fairs and melas, especially during Kali Puja and Raas Purnima.

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