As most of the groups and people from all walks of life have joined the anti-CAA movement in Assam, the state government continues to announce sops for different communities and organisations.
On Tuesday, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced crores of funds for the indigenous Sahitya Sabhas (literary bodies) of Assam including Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS).
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He made the announcement after a meeting with representatives of 22 indigenous Sahitya Sabhas including ASS and Bodo Sahitya Sabha at the Brahmaputra State Guest House.
As per the decision which was taken in the meeting, the CM announced that state government would provide Rs. 10 crore to the corpus fund of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Rs. 5 crore to Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and Rs. 3 crore each to the other indigenous Sahitya Sabhas as a one-time grant.
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Also read: Assam govt attempts to douse anti-CAA protests
Accordingly, Asom Sahitya Sabha would be able to derive an amount of Rs. 80 lakh annually as interest from the corpus fund while Bodo Sahitya Sabha would receive Rs. 40 lakh and other indigenous Sahitya Sabhas would get Rs. 24 lakh each annually.
It seems participation of writers and members of literary organisations in the state representing various communities in the ongoing anti-CAA protests has disturbed the BJP-led Assam government which is adamant to implement the Act in the state.
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Paramananda Rajbongshi, the president of Asom Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of Assam, is also seen participating in anti-CAA protests.
Like other anti-CAA protestors, Rajbongshi is also of the view that if implemented, the new citizenship Act would greatly affect the indigenous languages of Assam including the Assamese language and the state’s culture.
The CM also announced that the state government would provide one-time financial grant of Rs. 50,000 to one thousand new writers belonging to various communities of the state under ‘Bhasha Gaurav’ achoni which was a budget announcement.
The CM hoped that this scheme would be able to inspire young generation writers to engage in literary works in different indigenous languages of the state.
Chief Minister Sonowal urged the indigenous literary bodies to put emphasis on research works for preservation and promotion of indigenous language and culture and assured all help from the state government in this regard.
In Tuesday’s meeting, representatives of ASS, BSS, Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha Assam, Deori Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Nikhil Rabha Sahitya Sabha, Karbi Sahitya Sabha and Mising Sahitya Sabha.
The other literary bodies include Nikhil Bishnupriya Sahitya Sabha, Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Asom Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Garo Sahitya Sabha, Moran Sahitya Sabha, and Asom Chah Janagusti Sahitya Sabha.
Representatives of Sonowal Kachari Sahitya Sabha, Kurukh Sahitya Sabha, Konch Rajbangshi Sahitya Sabha, Shautal Sahitya Sabha, Mundari Sahitya Sabha and Sarania Kachari Sahitya Sabha also took part in the meeting.
Minister for commerce and industries Chandra Mohan Patowary was also present in the meeting.