Firm run by Assam CM’s wife got Rs 10 cr under central scheme, says Gaurav Gogoi; Himanta denies

The CM responded: “I would like to clarify that neither my wife nor the company she is associated with has ever received any financial subsidies from the Government of India.”

I would like to clarify that neither my wife nor the company she is associated with has ever received any financial subsidies from the Government of India https://t.co/oqGG21nEp6

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 13, 2023

Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma is the Chief Managing Director of Pride East Entertainments Private Limited, one of the largest media companies in the Northeast that owns two news channels, a newspaper, a digital news portal and multiple entertainment channels.

Gogoi also pointed to MoFPI records available in public domain, which show that the company is one 70 Project Execution Agencies to set up agro processing cluster projects under the ministry’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana. Riniki has been listed as the lead promoter of the project to set up an agro processing cluster project in Darigazi village in Assam’s Nagaon district, one of seven such projects under the scheme in the state. For this project, which has a project cost of Rs 25 crore, a grant of Rs 10 crore – the maximum amount available under the scheme – was approved on November 10, 2022 by the ministry, records show.

According to the Ministry website, the aim of the agro processing cluster scheme is to develop infrastructure and common facilities to “encourage groups of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach by linking groups of producers/farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain with modern infrastructure”.

These clusters are to be set up by project execution agencies (PEA), who are eligible for financial assistance. The scheme offers grants-in-aid at 35% of the project cost in general areas, and 50% of the cost in Northeastern states, subject to a maximum of Rs 10 crore per project. The pattern of assistance guideline states that the grants-in-aid will be credit linked but not back-ended, and that the grant cannot be used for purchase of land.

The scheme guidelines also state that the PEA will have to arrange at least 10 acres of land for the project either by purchase or on lease for at least 50 years. Land records maintained by the Assam government’s Revenue and Disaster Management department show that the titles of the plots in Darigazi village listed for the project had been acquired by Pride East Entertainments Private Limited on February 4, 2022 and that the class of the land had been changed from agricultural to industrial on April 8, 2022.

Queries sent to the CM’s office did not elicit a response. The Indian Express also reached out to Pride East Entertainment Private Limited for a comment but did not receive a response.

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh hit out at the central government, stating, “Is this the model to double farmers’ income, where money allocated for a scheme dedicated for farmers was distributed as grant to a company associated with Assam’s CM’s wife?”

The Assam unit of the All India Trinamool Congress also issued a statement, calling the PM’s promise of a corruption-free nation “a mere eyewash”.