Religious Institutions: Assam Government Hikes Additional Grant To Rs 2 Lakh

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a move that would provide the much-needed breather to 162 historically significant religious institutions in Assam, the Assam government has decided to award an additional annuity to each of them. Annuity is a fixed sum of money paid each year. The Government has increased the additional annuity amount by Rs. 2 lakh for each of this religious institution from 2019-20. To implement the new scheme, the aggregate additional cost to the exchequer would be Rs 3,24,00,000.

Moreover, these institutions would also continue to enjoy the earlier earmarked annuity. As of now, the total cost of annuity grant to these religious institutions has been Rs 90,98,230. The annuity presently being enjoyed by some of the 162 religious institutions is as follows: Sri Sri Chamaria Xatra in Kamrup district: Rs 14,000; Satrasal Dham (Ram Rai Kuti Xatra) in Dhubri district: Rs 8,790; Sri Sri Kamakhya Devalaya in Kamrup metro: Rs 7,000; Sri Sri Samaguri Satra in Majuli district: Rs 5,128; and Rs 3000 each to Sri Sri Surya Pahar Temple in Goalpara district; Negheriting Siva Temple in Jorhat district; Sri Sri Basistha Devalaya in Kamrup metro; Sri Sri Batadraba Satra at Lalung gaon in Nagaon district; Sri Sri Batadraba Xatra at Borbheti in Nagaon district; Sri Sri Siva Doul in SIvsagar district; and Sri Sri Mahabhairav Devalaya in Sonitpur district.

This hike in annuity grant is in tune with the State government’s decision to develop and publicize in a focused manner various religious or historical importance. The additional grant will be given under the scheme entitled ‘Asom Darshan Annuity Grant to Devalayas’.

The State government has been giving the annuity to the 162 religious institutions in lieu of the lands acquired from them earlier. The Government of Assam had acquired vast swathes of land under the ‘Assam State Acquisition of Lands Belonging to Religious or Charitable Institutions of Public Nature Act, 1959’, and has been paying perpetual annuity to these religious institutions.

However, the annuity granted to these institutions at present is not sufficient to maintain these places which are visited by large numbers of devotees/pilgrims round the year. Many such trusts have very limited resource base to provide even the basic infrastructure facilities to the devotees.

The State Revenue and Disaster Management Department is preparing the proposal. It is seeking from the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) the last fiscal’s utilization certificates (UCs) of the annuity grant as submitted by these religious institutions. Sources informed that a few of the 162 religious institutions (xatras, mandirs, and devalayas) have already submitted their UCs.

State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had made the announcement in hike of annuity to these religious institutions during the Budget speech on the floors of the Assembly.

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