Assam government launches ‘Asom Darshan’ scheme to provide financial assistance to 915 religious institutions

Under the scheme the Assam government takes up a comprehensive plan to develop religious places of all faiths including 915 institutions with budgetary allocation of Rs 710 crore.

While Rs 2 lakh additional annuity grant to 160 Devalayas and Rs 10 lakh as first installment to listed religious institutions are being provided to improve infrastructure, steps are also taken to improve connectivity for visitors by building a strong road network leading to the places of religious interest at a project cost of Rs 614.45 crore under this scheme.

During a programme held at Veterinary College Playground in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Sonowal said that, religious institutions of all faiths promote human values and lead people towards spiritual awakening and this helps in reforming human mind and building a value based society.

Sonowal urged the people of the State to put united efforts to make Assam as one of the best states in the country.

“Spiritual knowledge helps to build an orderly society and urged the Satras and other religious institutions to take a lead in generating scientific temperament as a shield against superstition and other social evils in society,” Sonowal said.

The Assam Chief Minister called upon them to make the youth aware about the ill effects of drugs use and nurturing them as ideal citizens.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Viswa” is working for the welfare of all sections of society, Sonowal said that, this has brought about new confidence among people in the nation.

He averred that people in the country today feel more vibrant and secured due to the inclusive policies of the Central government.

“As a result of extraordinary synergy between the Central and State government and successful implementation of the welfare schemes, there is an over-all development in the standard of life of the people of Assam today,” Sonowal said.

Underlining the rich heritage and resources of the state, the Assam Chief Minister said that, Asom Darshan Scheme would help to promote religious tourism in Assam.

He also reiterated that the State government is fully committed to the cause of the indigenous people of the State and has taken number of steps for protection and promotion of Assamese language, literature, culture and heritage.

Sonowal emphatically said that, the Assam government never took any decision which was against the interest of the indigenous people of the State.

Moreover, the Chief Minister said that with religious tourism gaining momentum in the state, incidence of theft in religious institutions has also been rising, which is a cause of concern. He urged the management boards of the religious institutions to pay special attention on the issue and take steps for ensuring safety and security of valuable properties of such institutions.

Assam Finance minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, the aim of Asom Darshan scheme is to protect the Jati, Mati and Bheti (community, land and base) of the Assamese people.

He said that under this scheme the state government would take steps for improving key infrastructure of religious institutions for which initially Rs 10 lakh to each identified institutions would be provided.

Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that religious institutions which would submit utilization certificates of the initial amount within August 15, they would receive another Rs 15 lakh during this year.

He also informed that the Public Works Department has taken steps for construction of 582.50 km roads connecting religious institutions as a measure to boost connectivity.

The Assam minister further said that Rs 2 lakh additional annuity grant to 100 year-old Devalayas to be given every year apart from Rs 1 lakh for installation of CCTV within the campus.

Water Resources minister Keshav Mahanta and BJP Assam unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, state ministers Pijush Hazarika and Jogen Mohan, MLAs Pramod Borthakur, Angoorlata Deka, Dr. Numol Momin and Utpal Bora, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Additional Chief Secretaries Rajiv Bora and Jishnu Baruah, several Satradhikars and representatives of management committees of the religious institutions were present in the programme.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)