Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced enhanced financial assistance for families affected by the devastating floods in the state. The assistance includes an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person and an immediate interim relief of Rs 15,000 for every flood-affected family in the worst-hit districts.
Sarma stated that no amount of financial assistance could compensate for the loss of human lives, but the state government was committed to standing by the affected families during the crisis. The additional assistance of Rs 5 lakh will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the family members of each deceased person, over and above the existing ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh, taking the total compensation for each deceased person’s family to Rs 9 lakh.
The Chief Minister also announced that every flood-affected family in the worst-hit districts would receive an immediate interim assistance of Rs 15,000 to help them meet urgent needs arising from the disaster. This relief would be extended to all eligible flood-affected families without discrimination, including government employees, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Mid-Day Meal workers, and other categories of beneficiaries.
The announcement comes as Assam continues to grapple with one of the season’s worst flood spells, which has affected thousands of families across several districts, damaging homes, agricultural land, and public infrastructure. The state government has been undertaking relief and rehabilitation measures in coordination with district administrations, while rescue operations and distribution of essential supplies continue in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi demanded a massive enhancement in financial assistance for Assam’s flood-hit families, saying the relief announced by the state government was grossly inadequate in view of the widespread devastation caused by this year’s floods. Gogoi urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to extend the Orunodoi scheme to every woman belonging to flood-affected families and sought a special package of Rs 400 crore from the Centre exclusively for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in the Sivasagar Assembly constituency.
Gogoi also alleged that despite Chief Minister Sarma’s recent visit to New Delhi and his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, no special financial package had been secured for Assam. He further claimed that the Chief Minister failed to obtain an appointment with Prime Minister Modi and questioned the state’s effectiveness in securing Central support. Gogoi warned of intensified protests if the government failed to provide adequate compensation.
