‘Barak Banga’ regional body & hence not eligible for corpus fund scheme of Assam govt: Ranoj Pegu

Apr. 1: The Bengali community in Assam has been deprived on various counts by the BJP. This was alleged in the Assam Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Budget Session by Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, MLA of North Karimganj.

Speaking at the floor of the House, MLA Dey Purkayastha said that the Bengalis are the 2nd largest community in the state. Citing statistics from the state Budget of 2022, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said that a total of Rs. 28.80 crore was earmarked to be distributed among 21 literary bodies of the state. In the last two years, Rs. 116 crore corpus fund was created for this purpose.

Stating this, MLA Dey Purkayastha said, “Though Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan was asked to apply for financial grant out of this corpus fund, but ultimately the state government did not sanction the amount. However, prior to this, Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan used to get annual grant of Rs. 4 lakh. Even this amount was reduced to Rs. 3 lakh. Last year, it was stated that the amount would be disbursed in two installments. But unfortunately, the 2nd installment of Rs. 1.5 lakh was not given. Is it not a deprivation of the Bengali community of Assam by the BJP government?”

Responding to this, State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu said, “The corpus fund was created for the state level literary & cultural bodies. The very name Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan means that it is an area specific or region specific organisation representing the Bengali community residing only in Barak Valley while excluding the Bengalis residing in other parts of Assam. That is why, this organisation was not sanctioned the amount from the corpus fund of the state government.”

Dr Pegu also stated that if a area/ region specific organisation like Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan is allowed to avail the corpus fund meant for state level cultural or literary bodies, then similar claims may be raised by other such local area based organisations operating within Assam. Ranoj Pegu. however, accepted that in 2020-21, Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan was given an amount of Rs.1.5 lakh as 1st installment. But in 2021-22, the Sammelan was provided an amount of Rs. 2 lakh.

This was resented by various organisations of Barak Valley. On behalf of Barak Upottaka Bongo Sahitya Sammelan, its General Secretary Gautam Prasad Dutta raised the issue of curtailing even the annual grants which was earlier accorded to them. He said that constantly, the state government is reducing the amount of annual grant. He wanted to know the reason behind such steps taken by the government. Some other cultural organisations of Barak Valley vehemently criticised the ‘discriminatory attitude’ of Assam Government towards the Bengali community of Assam.