GUWAHATI: Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in presence of finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, launched a new phase of Asom Darshan scheme with an allocation of Rs 37.7 crore.
The scheme was introduced in 2019-20 to preserve the heritage and culture of places of historical and religious importance in the state. Under the scheme, 915 religious institutions received financial grants worth Rs 10 lakh each. Sonowal presented approval letters to 377 religious institutions under the scheme here on Thursday.
Under the scheme, steps were taken to give financial assistance to develop infrastructural and other essential amenities of the religious places of different religions across the state. “Spiritual and cultural edifice of Assam is very strong. Therefore, the places of religious importance should be built in a way to reverberate the message of spiritual and cultural identity of the state to foreign tourists who visit Assam,” said Sonowal.
He said under the Scheme, the religious institutions that received Rs 10 lakh will get another Rs 15 lakh, upon satisfactory utilization of the first allotment of Rs 10 lakh.
“Those people who are rich culturally and spiritually tend to be rich intellectually also. Therefore, the Assam government has conceptualized Assam Darshan scheme for the all-round enrichment of the state as well as its people,” Sonowal said.
“Guided by the teachings of different religions, we should work to strengthen our society on the principles of harmony and friendship,” he added.
Sonowal said for spiritual opulence, the state government has decided to give Rs 2.5 lakh to 8,000 namghars (prayer halls), which are more than 50 years old.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said through Assam Darshan, an effort was made to strengthen the foundation of a harmonious society. Stating that there is unity among diversity in the state, he said the present government in Assam respects the diversity.