Assam Govt to provide financial grant to Durga Puja committees

GUWAHATI, Oct 17: The Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam Government will offer financial grants to Durga Puja committees organizing puja for at least three years.

The announcement, made by State Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, comes a day after he appealed puja committees to shun the practice of collecting hefty sums of money from traders and business houses in the name of chandas.

“We will take a decision during our weekly cabinet meeting tomorrow on providing a one-time financial grant to Durga Puja committees. The whole idea is to dissuade puja committees from collecting hefty sums of money in the name of chandas,” Chief Minister Sarma said in Dibrugarh yesterday.

As per sources, the Government is likely to provide a financial grant to around 7,000 puja committees.

The move would be similar to the financial grant the State Government had provided to Rongali Bihu committees earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Durga Puja committees across Assam have welcomed the State Government’s move, terming it historic.