Xatra on Bangladesh border is gasping for life!

Ram Rai Kuthi Xatra has been getting Rs 4,395 as annuity since 1957 without any revision

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The crisis-ridden Ram Rai Kuthi Xatra near the India-Bangladesh border at Satrasal under the Golokganj LAC in the Dhubri district is gasping for life. Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev established this xatra himself believably in 1597 when he was 109-year old.

The Xatra Commission, led by MLA Pradip Hazarika, visited this xatra recently. Xatradhikar Jitendra Nath Pradhani briefed the Xatra Commission.

Talking to The Sentinel, the Xatradhikar said, "If the government doesn't look to the xatra sympathetically, it will face more crises."

On the landed property of the Xatra, the Xatradhikar said, "The king donated lands to this xatra, but the government acquired most of the Xatra lands in 1957 against an annuity of Rs 4,395. The government never revised that annuity amount. Now the xatra is under cash crunch. The government should be considerate to revise the annuity amount."

Among other lands, the Xatradhikar said, "The main campus of the xatra has 12 bighas of land. However, a person belonging to a specific community got a plot of land (one Katha) inside the Xatra land mutated to his name. We know nothing as to how he could mutate the land with the help of the district administration. We will feel elated if the government gives that plot of land back to us. We also have 80 bighas of khasland. We want the government officially hands over these lands to the xatra. We have six bighas of land in the Satrasal market. We used to collect revenue from the shopkeepers in the market earlier. However, the panchayat took the market later. They collect revenue from the market now."

On the financial health of the xatra, the Xatradhikar said, "The xatra needs around Rs 4 lakh annually to run it properly. As income, we have only Rs 4,395 annuity from the government and donations from devotees. The remaining amount comes from the local populace. The government needs to view this with sympathy."

Srimanta Sankardev solemnised the wedding of his niece Aai Bhubaneswari and Veer Chilarai in this xatra when he was there.

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