Who Is Dr. Sankar Das? Controversy Over Assam Govt's Dairy Grant Continues

Amid the major controversy over the allocation of a government-subsidised dairy development scheme worth Rs 50 lakh in Assam, an investigation by Pratidin Time has revealed that in a list of 15 beneficiaries selected under the Dairy Development Department’s flagship subsidy programme, the very first name, Dr. Sankar Kumar Das from Bongaigaon has raised eyebrows for all the wrong reasons.

For the Assam Chief Minister, this may be a routine matter, but for ordinary citizens surviving on a meagre monthly subsidy of Rs 1,250, it is a serious issue. While the wives of influential ministers and senior BJP legislators, PWD contractors, and now even owners of private hospitals, luxury restaurants, and cinema halls continue to receive government-subsidised schemes, such decisions can never be considered normal by the general public.

Despite the scheme being meant for eligible commercial dairy farms, Dr. Das, a well-off private medical practitioner and owner of a posh restaurant and a cinema hall in Bongaigaon, was selected over several qualified dairy farm operators. The justification for this selection remains shrouded in mystery, sparking serious questions about the integrity of the process.

How Did a Private Doctor Make It to the Top of a Dairy Scheme List?

Sankar Kumar Das’s farm reportedly produces only 60–70 litres of milk per day, far below the commercial scale required to be eligible for the Rs 50 lakh subsidy meant for expanding large-scale dairy infrastructure. In stark contrast, the Bongaigaon district is home to over 30 cooperative-run units under the Lakhimi Dairy brand, many of which are in dire need of financial support and infrastructure development. Still, the first name on the selection list was none other than a wealthy businessman with assets in healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.

The case of Dr. Das is not an isolated one. Earlier, another beneficiary of the same scheme from Bongaigaon, a certain Dr. Bordoloi, had also sparked controversy. Dr. Bordoloi owns a luxurious private hospital, a private chain of educational institutions amd multiple car dealerships. He is also reportedly a powerful BJP leader and a ticket aspirant from the Abhayapuri constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections.

This pattern of selection, where affluent, politically connected individuals are being awarded public subsidies meant for marginal and cooperative dairy farmers, is triggering growing public outrage.

Lakhimpur Uproar: “Where is the Dairy Farm?”

Following Pratidin Time’s exposé, the Lakhimpur District Congress staged a strong protest after it emerged that one of the listed beneficiaries, Babul Gogoi, was selected for the scheme despite not even operating a dairy farm in the district. Local dairy cooperatives, struggling to make ends meet, are questioning how and why Gogoi was selected and in whose interest this decision was made.

As protests intensify and questions pile up, the government and the Dairy Development Department now face mounting pressure to explain how a programme designed to empower grassroots dairy farmers turned into a playground for the privileged.

ALSO READ: "Minister's Wife Or Dairy Farmers"? The Angst In Bongaigaon Over Govt Aid