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GUWAHATI: Bengali Hindu brides and grooms in Assam choosing Assamese Hindu partners could receive around Rs 40,000 each as financial assistance under a scheme proposed by the state Linguistic Minority Development Board “to strengthen the bond between the two communities”.

“Couples in inter-community marriages are often deprived of property rights, besides facing a social boycott. We intend to assist such couples in setting up shops, beauty salons and also in farming,” Board chairman Alok Kumar Ghose said. “The proposal was submitted to the state government two days ago.” A website is already being designed for Bengali-Assamese Hindu couples to register their details online.

While Ghose claimed the initiative would foster amity, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union termed the proposal “divisive” and accused the board of attempting religious polarisation. “The government has been taking steps to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims. The board’s proposal is just another example of this. Rather than providing assistance along religious lines, the board could have extended help to any financially unstable Bengali person marrying into any religion or community,” said Rejaul Karim Sarkar , president of the student union.

All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation president Samrat Bhowal said his organisation would back any initiative to remove “mistrust” between the Bengalis and Assamese. “There have been some incidents of late that have created mistrust between the two communities. This (the offer of financial assistance to inter-community Hindu couples) is a timely approach and we welcome it.”

