Guwahati: With Assam grappling with the aftermath of one of its most severe flood disasters in recent years, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced an extensive relief package aimed at helping affected families recover and rebuild. The measures include financial assistance for bereaved families, cash support for severely affected households, educational aid for students and compensation for property and agricultural losses.
Announcing the relief measures, the Chief Minister said the state government remains committed to extending every possible support to flood-hit communities and ensuring that affected families receive timely assistance.
Under the new package, the families of those who lost their lives in the floods will receive ₹4 lakh as ex gratia from the state government. The Chief Minister also clarified that post-mortem reports will not be mandatory for disbursing the compensation. Families of people who remain missing for more than 30 days due to the floods will also be eligible for the same amount after completion of the prescribed verification process.
In addition to the ex gratia payment, the government will provide another ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of the deceased. Together, the two assistance schemes will provide a total financial support of ₹9 lakh to each eligible family.
To address immediate household needs, the government has announced a cash relief of ₹15,000 for more than one lakh households that have been severely affected by the floods.
The Chief Minister also announced special assistance under the Orunodoi scheme. Beneficiaries in the flood-affected districts of Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar will receive ₹2,500 for the month of August. Regular Orunodoi payments are scheduled to resume from August 1.
Students affected by the floods will also receive financial support to continue their education. Beginning August 1, Higher Secondary students will receive ₹1,000 towards the purchase of books, while undergraduate students will be given ₹3,000 and postgraduate students will receive ₹5,000. The government will also distribute free textbooks to school students and extend financial assistance for purchasing school uniforms.
To ease the difficulties faced by students who lost important academic records during the floods, the state government will reissue Class X and Class XII marksheets and certificates free of charge.
Meanwhile, the assessment of damage to houses, livestock, fisheries and agricultural land is scheduled to begin on August 3. Based on the survey findings, compensation will be released to eligible beneficiaries in accordance with government norms.
The relief package forms part of the Assam government’s broader rehabilitation strategy as restoration work continues across flood-affected districts and authorities intensify efforts to support families recovering from the disaster.
