Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi calls it a “betrayal of the voiceless” as a ₹2.98 crore orphanage funded under a central scheme allegedly turns into a private hotel in Assam’s hill district.
BY Navin Upadhyay
August 2, 2025: What was once promised as a sanctuary for the forgotten children of Assam now stands draped in linen sheets, its marble floors echoing with the footsteps of wealthy guests instead of vulnerable orphans.
In the remote hills of Dima Hasao, where hope is often a rare visitor, the government had pledged a safe haven—a home for the destitute, the abandoned, and the voiceless. But four years after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cut the ribbon on what was meant to be a lifeline for orphans, that same building now welcomes travelers with wine lists and room service. It bears a new name: Hading Hotel.
The transformation has ignited a storm of outrage, led by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who calls it not just a misuse of public funds, but a moral collapse—a betrayal of children who had nowhere else to go. For a region accustomed to neglect, the alleged repurposing of an orphanage into a luxury hotel feels like a cruel metaphor: welfare promises bulldozed and replaced by commerce.
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Originally built to house vulnerable children, the facility was inaugurated as a shelter in 2021 but was re-launched as a commercial property in 2025—sparking accusations of corruption and betrayal of public trust.
On 26-07-2021, Hon’ble CM Sri. Himanta Biswa Sharma inaugurated an orphanage home at Boro Haflong, Dima Hasao – built with Rs. 2.98 crore from the NLCPR Fund. Within months, the orphans were moved out. In 2022, the building was partially demolished and renovated.
Now, on…
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 2, 2025
On July 26, 2021, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated a “Home for Orphans and Destitute Children” in Boro Haflong, constructed at a cost of ₹2.98 crore under the central government’s Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme, which is meant to strengthen infrastructure in the Northeast. The orphanage was intended to serve as a critical support center for children in need in the remote hill district.
However, according to Gogoi and multiple local sources, the orphanage was never fully operational. Within months, the children were reportedly relocated to a village schoolroom, and the facility was abandoned.
In early 2022, the building underwent partial demolition and renovation, for reasons never publicly explained by the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC). On July 26, 2025—exactly four years after the original inauguration—the same structure was reopened as Hading Hotel, with alleged private sector involvement.
Gogoi Blasts “#OrphanHomeScam”
On August 2, 2025, Gogoi took to social media, posting:
“From orphanage to luxury hotel, all funded by the public? Is this what public welfare looks like in New Assam?”
The tweet sparked a wave of outrage. Gogoi and other Congress leaders demanded a full audit of the ₹2.98 crore NLCPR funding and transparency on how the building was reclassified and commercially repurposed. They argue the move undermines the original welfare goals of the scheme and deprives orphans of their rights.
Local activists and child welfare groups echoed these concerns, with one viral post from activist @DanielLangthasa calling the affair the “#OrphanHomeScam“—not just a case of corruption but a moral betrayal.
As of now, neither Chief Minister Sarma nor the DHAC has offered any official response. While some government sources reportedly confirmed the building remained unused as an orphanage, no explanation has been given for its commercial conversion or the children’s relocation.
The lack of accountability has intensified calls for investigation, particularly given the funding source—central government grants earmarked for public welfare in underserved regions.
A Political Feud Reignited
The controversy has reignited the long-running feud between Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’ Assam president and deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, and Chief Minister Sarma, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2015.
Their rivalry previously escalated in 2023 when Gogoi accused a company linked to Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, of receiving ₹10 crore under a central subsidy scheme. Riniki filed a defamation suit, and Sarma retaliated with unsubstantiated personal allegations about Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colburn, including a widely mocked insinuation of “Pakistan links.”
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With this latest orphanage-hotel row, the political sparring has taken on new intensity—and public consequence.
Critics say the orphanage’s transformation highlights a troubling trend of repurposing welfare infrastructure for commercial gain under the BJP-led Assam government. It also raises concerns about transparency and the autonomy of local governance bodies like the DHAC, which Gogoi has accused of becoming “a rubber stamp” for the ruling party.
The controversy is unfolding just as Gogoi begins reshaping the Congress campaign for the 2026 Assembly elections. As a potential rallying point for the opposition, the issue may prove critical in framing the narrative around governance, corruption, and development priorities in the state.
The orphanage-turned-hotel scandal in Assam has morphed into a flashpoint over governance, social justice, and political accountability. With the state government remaining silent and public outrage growing, the issue has become more than just a local controversy—it’s a test case for how welfare infrastructure is handled in politically sensitive regions. Whether it becomes a lasting electoral liability for the BJP or a defining crusade for the opposition remains to be seen. What is certain is that the children of Dima Hasao—and the public—deserve clear answers.
