Dhubri, Oct. 1: NGOs and social welfare groups of Dhubri district are under the scanner of the district administration, following several lapses in rendering services to the people.

Dhubri deputy commissioner Jatindra Lahakar received a public complaint against Dhubri Mela Committee and Pramothesh Chandra Barua Open Air Theatre Cultural Complex Committee.

He asked the committees to broaden their base and amend the constitution to involve more people and make the activities more transparent.

Lahakar alleged that there were several complaints against the functioning of the Open Air Theatre Cultural Complex Committee despite its commitments that it would promote cultural activities and sports and extend medical assistance.

“But I have not seen any of the services or activities being carried out. I do not want to go deep into the past but from now, focus on the activities and the services you have committed to in constitution framed by you,” Lahakar said, in a meeting held at the Open Air Theatre Complex Conference Hall on Wednesday.

Lahakar added that many organisations and institutions had been allotted government land but were doing nothing.

“The Srimanta Sankardev Sishu Udyan is located in front of Dhubri Mela Committee office and an open air theatre as well but there are no recreational facilities. These minimum facilitates could have been provided by the Dhubri Mela Committee and Open Air Theatre Cultural Complex Committee,” Lahakar said.

While accepting some lapses in the functioning of the committee, the president of the Pramothesh Chandra Barua Open Air Theatre Cultural Complex Committee, Santi Pada Roy, said they had tried to improve the Srimanta Sankardev Sishu Udyan but the Dhubri Municipal Board did not allow them.

“It is our duty and we are duty bound to beautify it,” Roy added.

The senior secretary of the Dhubri Mela Committee, Santosh Sarkar, said the committee had constructed the Lainey Market, which was gutted in a fire a few years ago at the cost of Rs 3 lakh, extended financial assistance towards the construction of the open air theatre and medical unit, donated Rs 15,000 to Samsan Mondir, Rs 15,000 to Dhubri Girls College, Rs 17,500 to construct Netaji’s Statue and Rs 20,000 to Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sanmilan.

A nine-member sub-committee was formed at the insistence of the deputy commissioner to amend the constitution of the Dhubri Mela Committee and Dhubri Mela Committee and Pramothesh Chandra Barua Open Air Theatre Cultural Complex Committee and include new faces in both the bodies.