GUWAHATI: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered a probe into the controversy arising from allegations and counter-allegations levelled by the two founder members of Mothers Old Age Home here.
Utpal Hashvardhan and Monika Sharma — founders of the old-age home established in 2012 — indulged in allegations and counter-allegations over several issues including financial irregularities at the home over the last couple of days.
Mothers Old Age Home is a privately-run institution, which gives shelter to elderly helpless people.
Taking serious note of the latest unwanted developments at the home, which left 75 elderly inmates with an uncertain future, the chief minister on Thursday directed the deputy commissioner of the Kamrup (Metro) district Biswajit Pegu to probe the matter and submit a report within 72 hours.
The DC entrusted additional district magistrate Suswapna Kakoty to conduct the inquiry.
Meanwhile, following the CM’s direction, social welfare department minister Ajanta Neog visited the home on Thursday to personally monitor and understand the situation and the reasons behind it.
Neog later told the media that she had asked the founders of the old age home to sort out their differences and run the home smoothly as they were doing earlier.
“They have assured me of not letting the elderly inmates of the home to face any hurdles,” the minister said.
The minister further assured of all possible support from the government in running the home for the greater interest of the elderly people residing at the home.
The aged inmates have expressed happiness with the decision of both the founders to run the home again by sorting out the disagreements after the government’s intervention.
“The bitterness between them (founders) began around two months back.
We do not know the reasons behind the conflict between them.
What we do know is that police had to come to the home twice in the last two months as the Monika Sharma had lodged some complaints with the police,” an inmate of the home said.