Assam Floods: Nearly 97,000 Families Receive Rs 15,000 Aid Each, Damage Survey Underway

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said 96,842 flood-affected families had received one-time financial assistance of Rs 15,000 each as the state government began a detailed assessment of flood-related damage. Addressing a press conference held at the Media Hall of Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, he said assistance had been released to another 31,991 families across four affected districts. The government has so far spent Rs 146.26 crore on the financial assistance. Sarma said the beneficiary list was still being prepared and around 3,000 additional families could be included in the next phase. “We want the affected families to have some cash in hand when they return home after the flood. This assistance is meant to help them settle back and meet their immediate needs,” CM Sarma said. He added that eligible beneficiaries had also received Rs 2,500 under the Orunodoi scheme, with the government using direct financial support to assist families returning to their homes after the floods. The state government has now begun assessing the extent of the damage through a rapid survey across the affected areas, with 1,144 teachers involved in the exercise. 26,681 Houses Damaged Preliminary data indicates that 26,681 houses and 18,887 cattle sheds have been damaged. Losses involving handloom-related raw materials have also been recorded, while the assessment has so far covered around 5.98 lakh pets and domestic animals. The assessment of losses in agriculture and fisheries remains underway. Officials have identified 99,256 farmers who have suffered crop or other agriculture-related losses. According to Sarma, the first phase of the survey is expected to be completed by August 28 or 29. The information will subsequently be uploaded to a web portal, enabling affected people to verify the details recorded against their names. The portal will also allow people to raise objections if they have been excluded from the list or if the damage recorded does not correspond with their actual losses. A second verification round is scheduled to begin around September 1 or 2 and continue until September 10 or 11. The revised beneficiary list is expected to be published around September 15 or 16. Sarma said unresolved complaints could result in another field verification. “If there is a complaint for the third consecutive time, we are ready to conduct a third survey. Our aim is to complete the survey and provide financial assistance by October 9 or 10,” he said. If another verification round is not required, the government expects to complete the process by the end of September, Sarma added. Rs 9 Lakh Ex-Gratia For Kin Of Flood Victims The damage recorded on the assessment portal has so far been estimated at around Rs 480 crore for houses and other properties. The figure, however, is expected to change as the survey continues. The government is also considering long-term rehabilitation measures for some of the worst-hit areas of Sivasagar and Charaideo. Sarma said the state government had discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the possibility of providing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to eligible families in the two districts. “We are trying not just to provide immediate relief but to give a strong and lasting solution to the affected people,” Sarma said. Restoration work has begun at several damaged schools, roads, naamghars and health facilities. Health and veterinary teams are also continuing to hold camps in flood-affected areas. The government is separately working on ex-gratia payments of Rs 9 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the floods, the Chief Minister said. On relief for borrowers, Sarma said 1,712 affected people had applied so far for a moratorium on bank loans. Eligible borrowers have been asked to submit their applications by August 31. “There are still many people who have not applied for the moratorium. I appeal to all affected people who are eligible to apply before August 31,” he said. Insurance claims are also being processed. Sarma said 1,598 claims had been received so far, of which 170 had already been settled and payments released. He appealed to flood-affected people with insurance coverage to approach their respective companies and submit claims for losses suffered during the floods. CM Sarma said the immediate priority was to complete the damage assessment, give affected people an opportunity to challenge the findings and finish the compensation process for eligible families.