Assam Government Unveils Relief Package for Flood Victims
Comprehensive Support for Flood-Affected Families
File image of flood affected areas in Assam (Photo: @himantabiswa/X)
Guwahati, July 29: On Tuesday, the Assam government introduced a detailed relief initiative aimed at families and students impacted by recent floods. This package includes immediate financial aid, increased benefits under the Orunodoi scheme, educational assistance, and free replacements for lost academic documents.
During a live social media session on July 28, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced these measures, emphasizing their purpose in aiding recovery from the devastating floods that affected numerous districts in Upper Assam.
Families experiencing significant damage to their homes in the four most severely impacted districts—Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat—will receive a one-time financial aid of Rs 15,000. The Chief Minister assured that this amount would be directly deposited into the beneficiaries' bank accounts within four to five days.
Approximately 100,000 families are anticipated to benefit from this interim assistance, designed to help them repair their homes and replace essential items lost during the floods.
Additionally, special provisions have been made for Orunodoi scheme beneficiaries in the affected districts. Their August installment, initially set for August 3, will now be credited on August 1. Eligible families will receive Rs 2,500, and those facing severe flood damage will get an extra Rs 15,000, totaling Rs 17,500 in assistance.
Beneficiaries of the Orunodoi scheme in other parts of Assam will also receive their August installment, although the amount will be less than that provided to those in the hardest-hit areas, as additional relief is being directed there.
In recognition of the floods' impact on education, the Chief Minister announced several initiatives to support students in resuming their studies. All school students in Assam will receive free uniforms and textbooks.
Students in higher education from the worst-affected districts of Sivasagar and Charaideo will also be granted one-time financial aid for study materials. Higher secondary students will receive Rs 1,000, undergraduates Rs 3,000, and postgraduates Rs 5,000.
Furthermore, the government has declared that students who lost their marksheets, certificates, or other academic documents due to the floods can obtain duplicate copies at no cost, with no fees for issuing replacements.
These announcements come as thousands in Upper Assam continue to recover from the floods, which submerged vast areas, damaged homes and infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods, and resulted in over 60 fatalities statewide.
The government aims to provide immediate financial relief while facilitating a smooth return to education for affected students.