The BJP-led Government in Assam unveiled its budget proposal, announcing plans to sponsor visits for 25,000 pilgrims to the Ram temple in Ayodhya as part of the new Punya Tirtha Yojana, with an allocation of Rs 25 crore. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog highlighted the significance of supporting pilgrimages to sacred places, including Ayodhya, Puri, Vrindavan, and Varanasi under the existing Punya Dham scheme.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed joy over the consecration of the Ram temple, citing Srimanta Sankardev’s portrayal of Lord Ram as “purna Brahma avatar” and acknowledging the requests from Assam’s people for sponsored pilgrimages to Ayodhya.
In a move to preserve Vaishnavite heritage, the budget proposed declaring land in Batadrava, Barpeta, Majuli, and Narayanpur as heritage belts and blocks, aiming to prevent non-indigenous people from purchasing land near these cultural sites. The budget allocated funds for the development of Vaishnavite centers, including Batadrava Than (birth place of Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardev) at Bardowa (Rs 240 crore), Patbaushi Satra at Barpeta (Rs 15 crore), Kamalabari Satra at Titabor (Rs 5 crore), and Srimanta Sankardev Satra at Udalguri district’s Barangajuli (Rs 2 crore).
CM Himanta said, “Srimanta Sankardev described Lord Ram as purna Brahma avatar. So people of Assam are very happy over the consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya. And there were a lot of requests for sponsoring a pilgrimage to Ayodhya.”
The decision to designate heritage belts and blocks aims to prevent immigrant Muslims from acquiring such land, following earlier evictions of alleged encroachers. CM Himanta asserted these efforts as part of the government’s initiative to address concerns about Assamese culture and identity, particularly in light of past movements against foreigners.
Addressing Assam’s perennial flood problem, the budget outlined plans to utilise 271 wetlands for floodwater diversion and storage, shifting away from traditional embankment construction. This initiative aligns with the BJP Government’s promise to make Assam flood-free by 2024, with Rs 200 crore earmarked for implementation.
Additionally, the budget introduced a special admission incentive scheme to promote girls’ education and combat child marriage, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts. Over 5,000 cases of child marriage have been registered, with 4,000 arrests made under the Himanta Sarma administration’s campaign against this practice.
Furthermore, the budget proposed job reservations for tea garden workers, financial aid for Assamese cinema and Bihu committees, among other initiatives, aiming to foster socio-economic development and cultural preservation across the State.
