DYFI to Highlight Assam's Flood Crisis at National Level
Protest Planned in New Delhi
An aerial view of flood devastation in Upper Assam. (Photo:@himantabiswa/X)
Guwahati, Sept 30: In an effort to bring attention to the ongoing issues of flooding and erosion in Assam, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) is organizing a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 3. The aim is to have the crisis recognized as a national issue and to call for a thorough investigation into the recent severe floods affecting upper Assam.
The organization is advocating for significantly increased relief and rehabilitation support for families impacted by the floods, as well as the establishment of a centralized water management authority for the Northeast to effectively manage the region's intricate river systems.
During the announcement of the “Delhi Chalo” initiative, DYFI State Secretary Nirankush Nath stated that the group plans to present a memorandum to the Prime Minister and engage with Members of Parliament to facilitate a special discussion regarding Assam’s flood challenges.
According to the organization, Assam has incurred flood-related damages amounting to approximately Rs 37,000 crore from 2014 to 2024. They noted that while the state requested Rs 22,270 crore during this timeframe, only about Rs 6,000 crore was allocated by the central government.
The DYFI highlighted that nearly 39.5 percent of Assam's land is susceptible to flooding, which is nearly four times the national average, and that around 4,270 square kilometers of land has been eroded since 1950.
Emphasizing that Assam cannot address this issue in isolation, the DYFI pointed out the interstate and transboundary characteristics of the Brahmaputra river system.
In this regard, the organization has revived the call for an institutional framework similar to the proposed North-East Water Management Authority (NEWMA), which was suggested during the administration of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The DYFI proposed that such an authority should facilitate coordinated planning among northeastern states, supported by dedicated central funding, clearly defined roles, and implementation timelines.
Additionally, the DYFI called for the formation of an expert committee composed of engineers, geologists, environmentalists, and other specialists to investigate the causes of flooding and provide a report within a specified timeframe.
Regarding relief and rehabilitation efforts, the DYFI claimed that Rs 379 crore had been disbursed as an advance from the Centre’s share of the State Disaster Response Fund, but further assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund is still pending, despite an assessment conducted by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team.
The organization is also requesting one-time aid of Rs 1 lakh for families affected by floods to help them restart their livelihoods, Rs 10 lakh for families whose homes were completely destroyed, and Rs 5 lakh for those with severely damaged houses. They are also seeking increased compensation for losses related to crops and livestock, as well as at least Rs 20 lakh for families of individuals who lost their lives in the floods.