Guwahati: Durga Puja celebrations are just a few days away. And the government of Assam has announced financial assistance for Durga Puja Committees across the state. The funds will come from the Cultural Affairs Department of the state. The eligible Durga Puja Committees will receive Rs 10,000 each for the upcoming festival.
The Cultural Affairs department has asked the district commissioners to submit the list of Durga Puja committees in their respective districts which fulfill the criteria fixed by the department. The puja committees need to apply to the DCs of their respective districts. Thereafter, the DC office will verify if these committees were eligible for the assistance. Also, the DC offices have been ordered the complete and submit the same by Friday, 20 September 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for Financial Assistance
Only community Durga Puja celebration committees are eligible for the financial assistance. The committee should have been organizing Durga Puja for the last three consecutive years. Durga Pujas organised by private individuals or organisations will not be able to avail this benefit. The District Commissioner will verify if the Durga Puja Committees under his or her district fulfil the eligibility criteria. Once verified successfully, the financial assistance will be disbursed to the Puja Committee through Demand Draft. Money will not be transferred in other modes like electronic funds transfer or cash. Each committee must submit a cancelled cheque to the DC for verification and to ensure the accuracy of bank details.
The final list of approved committees must be prepared for each district by the respective District Commissioner’s office. A format has also been provided for presenting the list. The final lists must be mailed to the department on or before Friday. This year, the festival of Durga Puja falls from October 9 to October 13. Mahasasthi is on October 9 while Dashami is on October 13.
