Alarming flow of Gulf money to Assam

It was an accidental find. It all happened because the Department of Post has released documents on monthly transaction of Western Union International Money Transfer Service in Assam. 

THE security agencies have upped their ante in Assam. Reason: huge flows of Gulf Money. It was an accidental find. It all happened because the Department of Post has released documents on monthly transaction of Western Union International Money Transfer Service in Assam. These showed how money is coming to Muslim dominated areas of Karimganj, Hailakandi and Nagaon districts.  The money delivery is through post offices.

India Post introduced International Money Transfer Services on April 4, 2001 after an agreement with USA based Western Union Financial Services International (WUFS). This service is presently available at all the 19 head post offices and five Mukhya Dak Ghars and two important Sub Post offices.    

On October 14 last, chief postmaster of Guwahati GPO in a press conference said that the service is doing well in Karimganj, Nagaon and Guwahati and out of 24 offices in 14 offices there is no transaction till date since the inception of the scheme.However, it was found that there are alarmingly high transactions in Karimganj and Nagaon head office even higher than Guwahati GPO. Sources informed that both these places were receiving money from the Gulf countries. 

In June 2003, Guwahati GPO recorded seven transactions of Rs 1,42,083 and 32 transactions of Rs 7,80,097 whereas Nagaon recorded 21 transactions of Rs 6,33,884. Interestingly, Assam as a whole recorded 78 transactions and Rs 20,60,896 were collected. 

In July, Cachar division, which comprises of Hailakandi, Karimganj, Silchar and Haflong received Rs 18,15,466 for 60 accounts from sources outside India. Whereas Haflong registered nil transactions. Nagaon received Rs 9,59,809 through 37 transactions. In state capital Guwahati, only Rs 2,66,659 were received through 17 transactions. 

In the month of August, Guwahati received Rs 1,67,678 from 15 transactions where as Karimganj HPO received Rs 10,35,882 from the Gulf countries through 32 transactions.  Rs 8,30,488 reached Nagaon through 29 transactions.  In September last, Guwahati division recorded 20 transactions of Rs 2,66,508 but in Cachar division 58 transactions were recorded of Rs 21,70,094 and Nagaon received Rs 9, 46, 215 through 33 transactions. The money again reportedly came from Gulf countries.  But the socio-economic situation of the three districts of Karimganj, Hailakandi and Nagaon states that the number of NRIs from these areas is negligible. Moreover, economic as well as literacy rate is low in comparison to Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and other places. While these ‘advanced’ areas are known for minimal transactions and that money is coming from Britain and America, Barak Valley and Nagaon district are receiving huge in flows from West Asia.

Intelligence Sleuths believe that these inflows are more in the nature of monetary aid   to some organisations and habitants of Nagaon and Barak Valley. It may be mentioned that Nanhe Miyan, the prime accused in Godhra carnage hailed from Nagaon district; there are about promotion of Muslim fundamentalism in these areas. 

Banking, Kaisa hota hai…?

Forget about E-banking, ATMs and computerisation of accounts. Ask them about normal banking. You are likely to hear them pose a counter question: Kaisa hota hai…?   Anywhere in Assam. No surprise therefore, Assam tops the list of states with unsatisfactory customers. This is according to Reserve Bank, the high priest of banking in the country.  RBI says there are no complaints from Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Surprising.

“Assam tops the list with 90 per cent of the 440 cases registered with the Banking Ombudsman, while Meghalaya registered 3.9 per cent and Nagaland registered 3.5 per cent cases of the total over the period from 1997", said P. K. Dutta, Executive Officer of Banking Ombudsman (NE Region). A former Chief Secretary of Assam, Dutta, shares the disbelief on no complaints from Tripura-Meghalaya- Mizoram belt. 

“Lack of awareness among the people to redress their grievances might be the reason for such complaint free observation about the banking service in these states,” he opines. Banking Ombudsman will organise a seminar soon in the region to highlight avenues for justice to bank customers.