Initiative to benefit 1,265 Bihu committees of 30 districts
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 4: Chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday ceremonially launched the distribution of one-time financial assistance to Rongali Bihu celebration committees at a function organised by the Cultural Affairs Department at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
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It is to be mentioned that the State government has decided to provide the one time financial assistance only to those Bihu celebration committees which organise Rongali Bihu functions from Sankranti to the 6th day of the Bohag month of Assamese calendar every year and are minimum 10 years old.
Under this initiative, the chief minister on Monday distributed Rs 1.5 lakh per committee to 138 nos. of committees of Kamrup (Metro) and 142 nos. of committees of Kamrup district. Altogether 1,265 Bihu committees of 30 districts will be given this financial assistance and for this purpose the Culture Affairs Department has allocated a sum of Rs 18.97 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Dr. Sarma said that the State government has a bounded responsibility to work for socio-economic development of the people of the State as well as promoting the State’s rich culture. He said that considering the socio-cultural significance of Bihu for the people of Assam, the State government has decided to provide one-time financial assistance to the Rongali Bihu committees that organise Bihu functions from Sankranti to the 6th day of the Bohag month of Assamese calendar every year and are minimum 10 years old.
Underlining the history of Rongali Bihu which was originally celebrated for seven days, the chief minister urged the Bihu committees to maintain its originality so that the youth could realise its true form instead of considering Bihu just as a cultural function. The chief minister also called upon the Bihu celebration committees to use gamosa which are produced locally in the handlooms instead of power loom at Bihu functions.
While director, Cultural Affairs Dr. Debojit Khanikar delivered the welcome speech, the programme was also addressed by the Cultural Affairs minister Bimal Borah. Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Department Laya Madduri and representatives of Rongali Bihu celebration committees of Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup district were present on the occasion.
