Guwahati: A recent Right to Information (RTI) disclosure has triggered controversy over the financial management of the Zubeen Garg Samadhi Kshetra at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, revealing that nearly Rs 16.80 lakh was collected in cash donations over four months without any formal banking mechanism. According to official records furnished by the office of the Co-District Commissioner (CDC), Dimoria, an amount of Rs 16,79,880.75 was received from the public between September 24, 2025, and January 6, 2026. However, the RTI response indicates that the entire sum was handled through handwritten registers, with no dedicated bank account or digital payment facilities such as UPI in place.
The information was sought by Rakesh Hazarika, Executive Director of the Centre for Efficient Governance, who pointed out serious gaps in transparency and accountability. The RTI reply revealed the absence of any banking trail despite substantial footfall and continuous donations at the memorial site. Experts have warned that dependence on manual record-keeping through handwritten registers is highly vulnerable to cash leakage and human error. The disclosure also highlighted a significant accountability gap, noting that while donations began on September 24, government personnel were deputed at the site only from October 17. The RTI reply does not clarify who was responsible for collecting and safeguarding the cash during this initial three-week period.
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Reacting to the findings, Hazarika termed the situation a breach of public trust. “People donate at the Zubeen Garg Samadhi Kshetra out of deep emotion and respect. Such trust cannot be managed through informal cash handling,” he said, questioning why a dedicated bank account was not opened from the outset. The memorial, dedicated to the legendary Assamese artist Zubeen Garg, holds immense public sentiment. Transparency advocates are now demanding the immediate creation of a trust bank account, introduction of digital payment and receiving systems, and regular public disclosure of accounts to ensure credibility and accountability.
