AASU Demands Special Economic Package for Flood-Affected Districts in Assam

Urgent Call for Economic Relief

Guwahati, July 28: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has intensified its demands for a dedicated economic package aimed at the severely impacted districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat, as the Assam government faces mounting pressure following the catastrophic floods. The organization argues that standard relief measures will not suffice to restore the devastated economy and livelihoods of those affected.

In a memorandum presented to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, AASU called for a thorough rehabilitation strategy that encompasses financial aid, educational support, tax exemptions, loan repayment relief, and a scientific investigation into the flood causes.

AASU leaders, including president Utpal Sarma and general secretary Samiran Phukan, highlighted the extensive destruction to homes, agriculture, livestock, small enterprises, and students' education across the three districts. They cautioned that without a strategic rehabilitation plan supported by a special economic package, the economic landscape of these areas could remain impaired for years.

While recognizing the government's ongoing rescue and relief efforts, AASU emphasized the need for enhanced rescue operations and medical assistance. They also stressed the importance of protecting livestock and mentioned that the organization is independently conducting relief efforts in the affected regions.

“We demand the free reissuance of all government documents, such as birth, domicile, caste, and income certificates, through a dedicated online portal for students whose records were lost in the floods. An online system, in collaboration with ASSEB, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, and other educational institutions, is essential for affected students to obtain duplicate academic documents at no cost,” stated AASU representatives.

Furthermore, AASU urged the government to cover the academic expenses of all students from flood-impacted areas for the remainder of their courses and to expand the Fee Waiver Scheme to include those previously excluded.

The organization also called on the government to instruct banks and financial institutions to ease EMI payments on vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, and business loans for flood-affected individuals, with the government assuming the repayment responsibilities for a designated period. They requested a five-year exemption from land revenue, municipal taxes, and other local taxes for residents of the affected regions.

The memorandum advocated for special financial aid for the reconstruction and repair of damaged homes based on actual losses rather than standard compensation, a targeted livelihood and employment package focusing on agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and self-employment, and the establishment of a high-level fact-finding committee comprising experts from IIT Guwahati, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Tezpur University, and specialists in water resources and environmental sciences to investigate the flood causes and propose lasting solutions.

AASU concluded by stating that the community expects more than temporary relief, urging the government to implement a long-term rehabilitation policy to ensure dignified resettlement and the restoration of livelihoods in the flood-affected districts.