Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Responds to Slur on ‘Tax’

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: “Our commitment to preserving and promoting our culture is of utmost importance. Starting this year, we will be providing a financial grant of Rs 25,000 each for celebrating the Raax Festival in 3,000 locations. This initiative aims to support and encourage the celebration of this traditional festival across our region,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote today on X, formerly Twitter.

This statement from the Chief Minister is a response to an allegation from the Opposition that the state government has imposed taxes on the public for obtaining various permissions from the Assam Police and verifications by it.

Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Minister made a series of statements on X today. He said, “As part of our government’s initiatives, the Government of Assam is now providing Rs 1.5 lakh to each Bihu committee for organizing the Bihu festival. This marks the first time such support is being provided under our administration.

“If we charge Rs 300 for processing a permission, it is important to note that we are allocating nearly Rs 50 crore this year for organizing our traditional cultural festivals. For instance, if a Bihu committee receives Rs 1.5 lakh from the government, it is unlikely that anyone would criticize us for collecting Rs 300 for the state exchequer.”

Of late, the Home Department has imposed revised service fees for several permissions, verifications, etc., on applicants applying through the Assam Police Citizens Service Portal, ‘Assam Police Sewa Setu’.

According to the Home Department notification, no service fee is applicable for e-complaints, e-FIRs, public grievance redressal, service grievance redressal, registration of senior citizens, government/PSU employment verifications, complaints for missing persons, child-related complaints, lost and found property, passport sewa, citizen tip, and permission/NOC for religious events.

However, the department has imposed service fees at the rate of Rs 300 each for private employment verification, tenant/PG verification, domestic help verification, permission/NOC for cultural events; Rs 500 for permission/NOC for social awareness events; Rs 2,000 each for permission/NOC for political events, permission/NOC for sports events, and NOC for temporary sales of firecrackers; Rs 3,000 for permission for drones; Rs 5,000 each for permission/NOC for entertainment/commercial events, police clearance for explosive movement and storage, and NOC for temporary bar licences; Rs 10,000 for police clearance for petrol pumps and gas agencies; and Rs 50,000 for Guwahati city (GMDA area) and Rs 25,000 for rest of the state for police clearance for commercial construction.

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