Guwahati: A recent Right to Information (RTI) disclosure has sparked a controversy regarding the financial management of the Zubeen Garg Samadhi Kshetra located at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati.
Official records reveal that nearly Rs 16.80 lakh was collected in cash donations over a four-month period without the use of a formal banking channel.
The data, provided by the office of the Co-District Commissioner (CDC) Dimoria, shows that between September 24, 2025, and January 6, 2026, a total of Rs 16,79,880.75 was received from the public. However, the RTI response indicates that these funds are managed entirely through handwritten registers, with no dedicated bank account or digital payment options like UPI currently in place.
Key Alarms Raised by the RTI
The findings, sought by Rakesh Hazarika, Executive Director of the Centre for Efficient Governance, point to several critical gaps in accountability. The RTI response highlights a complete absence of banking trails despite the high volume of footfall and donations.
Furthermore, the reliance on manual record keeping in handwritten registers is a method experts warn is highly vulnerable to cash leakage and human error.
A significant accountability gap was also identified, as donations began on September 24, but government personnel were only deputed to the site starting October 17. The identity of those responsible for cash collection during that initial three-week window remains undisclosed in the official reply.
“Basic Governance Failure”
Reacting to the findings, RTI appellant Rakesh Hazarika described the situation as a breach of public trust.
“When people donate at a place like the Zubeen Garg Samadhi Kshetra, they are contributing out of deep emotion and respect. That trust cannot be managed through informal cash handling,” Hazarika stated.
“Why was a dedicated bank account not opened from the first day itself? The Samadhi Kshetra cannot run on handwritten registers alone,” he added.
Demand for Digital Integration
The memorial, dedicated to the legendary Assamese artist Zubeen Garg, is a site of significant public sentiment. Advocates for transparency are now calling for the immediate establishment of a dedicated Trust bank account to ensure all funds are audited.
There are also growing demands for the introduction of digital receipting and UPI options to provide a transparent paper trail, alongside public disclosure mechanisms to ensure the memorial remains above suspicion.