Asom Darshan is a good scheme, says Asom Satra Mahasabha

GUWAHATI: The Asom Satra Mahasabha (ASM) has said that Asom Darshan is a good scheme but a few anomalies in the process of selection seem to have marred its purpose, to an extent.

Through Asom Darshan the State government doles out funds for the development of infrastructure of religious institutions like xatras, namghars, devalayas etc in the State. The scheme was launched last year by the BJP-led coalition government in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel, Asom Satra Mahasabha general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta said, "Asom Darshan is a very good scheme for the development of infrastructure of xatras, namghars etc in the State. However, some xatras that don't deserve to get the benefits under this scheme have made it to the selection list, depriving some deserving ones. Personal xatras and namghars are not supposed to get such benefits depriving the ones being run by the public. However, this has happened in the selection of beneficiaries of this scheme.

"MLAs and deputy commissioners were at the helm of affairs in the selection of beneficiaries. The anomalies might have happened due to politicizing the scheme by a few MLAs. On the other hand, the deputy commissioners picked up the beneficiaries on the basis of reports they had received from the mandals. Such anomalies, if allowed to continue, will surely mar the very purpose of the scheme.

"We've registered our objection to the selection list through a letter each to the Chief Minister, the Finance Minister and the Cultural Affairs Minister. However, no response from any of the three has been received as yet. There's still time to review the list of beneficiaries."