Himanta Launches Financial Assistance Scheme For Udasin Bhakats
Pointing out that a total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will benefit from the initiative, the chief minister said that 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
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched a new financial assistance scheme for “Udasin Bhakats”, providing monthly support of Rs 1,500 to celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras across the state.
"Udasin Bhakat" refers to celibate devotees in Assam's Vaishnavite monastic centers (Sattras), particularly in Upper Assam, who dedicate their lives to spiritual practice, often recruited young and living a disciplined, ascetic life of service and worship within the Sattra, akin to monks or renunciants, with the term "Udasin" meaning detached or renounced.
Launching the scheme the chief minister said that the scheme was announced in the state budget of 2025 and has now been implemented.
Mr Sarma said, “We had proposed 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.”
Pointing out that a total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will benefit from the initiative, the chief minister said that 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.
The chief minister said, “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.”
Earlier on Thursday Assam chief minister has announced a new financial assistance schem----"Babu Asoni" a new initiative by the Assam government to provide monthly financial assistance to boy students pursuing higher education in the state, starting February 1, 2026. It is designed to mirror the support provided to female students under the existing "Nijut Moina" scheme and promote gender equity in educational support programs.
The scheme proposes Rs 1,000 for students enrolled in Bachelor's degree (Undergraduate) courses and Rs 2,000 for students enrolled in Master's degree (Postgraduate) programmes. The financial assistance will be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
