Guwahati: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday alleged that kin and associates of lawmakers of the ruling dispensation were getting benefits of a government scheme and were even allocated Gir cows, which were specially brought for another state-funded project, depriving genuine beneficiaries, PTI reported.
Gogoi, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requested a review of beneficiaries of the Assistance to Entrepreneur for Establishment of Commercial Dairy Farming (2022-23) in Assam.
Gogoi, also the Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, noted that the scheme receives substantial financial support from the Assam government, and each unit is eligible for up to Rs 50 lakh in subsidy, with the objective of promoting genuine entrepreneurship in the dairy sector.
"However, multiple reports and official documentation point to irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries. Several recipients of the scheme's benefits appear to be family members or associates of ministers and MLAs in the state government, while dairy farmers, particularly in districts like Bongaigaon, have reportedly been overlooked despite having applied multiple times and fulfilling the eligibility requirements" he said in the letter.
The exclusion of experienced dairy entrepreneurs raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process, he added.
"Equally alarming is the response from the chief minister of Assam, who chose to justify the inclusion of ministers' family members in the list of dairy scheme beneficiaries," Gogoi said, referring to Sarma's statement that the ministers' families will need a source of income when out of power.
He maintained that this "open endorsement of political favouritism" has fuelled public outrage for undermining the constitutional values of equality and justice.
It also reflects a breach of the oath of office, which obliges public representatives to act impartially and in the public interest, he added.
Gogoi also mentioned the Gorukhuti agricultural project, funded through public money and intended for community benefit, which has also come under scrutiny.