¨     On 2 January 2026, a Financial Assistance Scheme for Udasin Bhakats was launched by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati.

¨     Monthly financial support of ₹1,500 will be provided to celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras across the state.
¨     The scheme had been announced in the previous year’s state budget and has now been implemented.
¨     The assistance amount will be credited directly to the bank accounts of the Udasin Bhakats every month.
¨     A total of 620 Udasin Bhakats have been identified as beneficiaries under the scheme.
¨     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.
¨     Satras serve as important religious and cultural centres in the Assamese Vaishnavite tradition.
¨     Udasin Satras are those where bhakats lead celibate lives in devotion.
¨     The Chief Minister highlighted the cultural and spiritual role of Satras in preserving Assam’s heritage.
¨     Majuli, the world’s largest river island, remains the core centre of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism and the land of Satras.