Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched the Financial Assistance Scheme for Udasin Bhakats, providing monthly support of Rs 1,500 to celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras across the state.
In the Assamese Vaishnavite tradition, Satras are monastic institutions that serve as religious and cultural centres. Devotees, known as bhakats, gather at the Satras to offer prayers. Satras where bhakats lead celibate lives are known as Udasin Satras.
Addressing the launch event in Guwahati, the Chief Minister said the scheme was announced in last year’s state budget and has now been implemented.
“We had mentioned the scheme of financial assistance to Udasin Bhakats in last year’s budget, and today we have launched the scheme. Under this scheme, Rs 1,500 will be credited to the bank accounts of Udasin Bhakats every month. If any Udasin Bhakats are left out, we will try to include them in the scheme,” Sarma said.
Providing district-wise details, the Chief Minister said that a total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will benefit from the initiative. These include 10 from Barpeta, eight from Dhubri, eight from Goalpara, six from Golaghat, 54 from Jorhat, 14 from Kamrup, 22 from Lakhimpur, 474 from Majuli, seven from Nagaon, six from Nalbari, five from Sivasagar, three from Sonitpur and three from Udalguri.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister highlighted the cultural and spiritual importance of Satras in Assam’s heritage.
“Assam’s Satras breathe life into our culture and have upheld our ethos and values for years. It was only befitting that we protected the Satras, upgraded them, and looked after the Udasin Bhakats who dedicate their lives to them,” he wrote.
“With Gurujona’s blessings, it is the honour of a lifetime to support the Udasin Bhakats with a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to help them in their path of Bhakti,” the Chief Minister added.
In Assam, Majuli—the world’s largest river island—is the core centre of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism and is known as the land of Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries).
(ANI)
