Assam distributes Rs 33.30 cr for organizations managing tribal places of worship

Guwahati: Looking to protect and preserve its tribal history and identity, the state indigenous and tribal faith and culture department on Sunday distributed sanction letters worth Rs 33.30 crore to different organizations managing places of tribal worship.

The distribution of financial assistance includes Rs 5 crore for All Bathou Mahasabha Heritage Centre, Rs 5 lakh each for 100 Bathou Thansali and 98 Brahma temples, Rs 5 lakh each for the second instalment of 36 indigenous places of worship and Rs 10 lakh each for five tribal institutions, including the All Assam Brahma Dharma managing committee.

The letters were distributed by minister for tribal affairs Ranoj Pegu and minister for transport, hills areas, co-operation and indigenous and tribal faith and culture department Jogen Mohan.

"The govt has started this new department of indigenous and tribal faith and culture. As a member of the indigenous tribe, I thank our CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. We all have a history, each tribe and each person has a history of 1,000 years. We have to preserve that history, culture, beliefs and identity and it is the duty of the govt to protect, preserve and take ahead its identity. The department is not only related to religion, it is also about the beliefs of tribals, their culture, which was created 1,000 years back," Pegu said.

Describing tribal-nature relation, Pegu said,"The beliefs and culture of indigenous tribal people are connected with nature and protecting it. We have provided financial aid to different places of worship and we will be providing more such aid to such places of worship in the future."

Speaking at the programme, Mohan said strengthening the beliefs and culture of the indigenous tribal people will strengthen the Assamese community."This money will be submitted directly to the district commissioner and has to be collected from the district resident committee. However, the sanction letters are being distributed today." Mohan said.