Dispur allocates Rs 710 crore for temples, masjids under ‘Assam Darshan’ scheme

915 over-100-year-old institutions identified

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The State government is going to spend Rs 710 crore for the development of infrastructure of over-100-year-old 915 religious and spiritual institutions of the State – temples, masjids, naamghars, xatras and churches – under its ‘Assam Darshan’ scheme.

Disclosing this before the media here on Saturday, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We’ve identified 459 temples, 186 xatras, 74 devalayas, 123 naamghars, 47 masjids and 26 churches – all of which are over 100-year old. Each of the 915 institutions will get Rs 10 lakh from the State government at a function here on February 24, 2020 when around 10,000 religious heads will congregate. Apart from these amounts, each of the 74 devalayas will get Rs 2 lakh yearly as annuity.”

Sarma added, “All these religious institutions are virtual tourist spots that are, however, marked by dilapidated approach roads. The PWD is going to spend Rs 615 crore to develop all these approach roads. The State Tourism department, on the other hand, is developing the basic amenities of 316 tourist spots in the State”.

Sarma further said, “Such a gesture to the religious institutions will have a positive socio-economic impact on the State. It’s expression of our intent to work for ‘Jaati, Maati’ and ‘Bheti’. We’re going to bring more such institutions of historical and religious significance into our fold in the subsequent years.”

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