Provide aid to more xatras and naamghars, Asom Sattra Mahasabha urges Government

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Asom Sattra Mahasabha (ASM) has urged the State Government to include more xatras and naamghars under the schemes which provide financial assistance to religious institutions.

Talking to The Sentinel on Monday, ASM general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta said that Clause 6 of the Assam Accord mandates provision of Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people and xatras and naamghars are definitely part of Assamese heritage. However, he said, adequate safeguards have not been provided to these institutions even though 37 years have elapsed since signing of the Assam Accord.

Mahanta mentioned that the State Government had proposed to provide financial assistance to the xatras based on the land that they occupy. A xatra was to be given Rs. 17 lakh if it possessed a minimum of one bigha of land. But, he said, the scheme was subsequently modified due to the financial crisis of the Government and no xatra has been given any fund under the scheme after 2017.

Mahanta said, "Out of 1,242 xatras (864 according to a Government survey), only 349 xatras received financial assistance from the State Government in 2017."

He expressed regret that the State Government has patronized some big xatras while ignoring some smaller xatras which have a historical significance. "Some xatras have played a pivotal role in the nation-building process, but these xatras have not received any funds from the Government," he said.

Mahanta said that the State Government had launched a new scheme named 'Asom Darshan' in 2020 whereby Rs 710 crore was provided to 913 religious institutions, including xatras, naamghars, temples, mosques, churches etc. However, he said, the beneficiaries included some little-known xatras and naamghars, while xatras having historical significance were ignored.

Further, the ASM general secretary alleged that there were irregularities in the section of recipients.

Mahanta requested Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to provide equal assistance to all xatras and naamghars instead of helping only the bigger xatras, and, thereby, ensure inclusive development of all these symbols of Assam's heritage.

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