Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that about ₹160 crore has been directly credited to the bank accounts of families affected by the devastating floods in the state.
The financial assistance is intended to address immediate losses of households and to help them in rebuilding their lives before the final compensation is determined through a thorough characterization of the damage.
As a result, the Chief Minister said that the Assam government sent the promised interim assistance of ₹15,000 each to nearly 75,000 of the worst-hit households in four affected districts.
"Around ₹160 crore has been credited directly into the bank accounts of families affected by the Assam floods,” Sarma said.
He added that the government was going to put immediate liquidity in the hands of families so they could meet urgent expenses and start the process of recovery without having to wait for the final damage assessment.
The assistance was transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, so families can get the funds without delays in physical distribution or a lot of administrative processes.
The Chief Minister said the government was taking a two-stage approach to flood compensation. It is going to give immediate financial support for families to meet immediate needs and then the final compensation will be made after a full assessment of the losses suffered by each household.
“We put immediate liquidity in the hands of families so they can begin rebuilding without delay, and the final compensation is determined through a thorough assessment,” said Sarma.
The announcement comes as much of Assam is still recovering from the disaster, as in many parts of the past year due to flooding. Floods have destroyed homes, agricultural land, roads, public infrastructure and essential services, and many families are in huge financial trouble.
The interim assistance is anticipated to help the affected households pay immediate bills for temporary shelter, food, household repairs and replacement of essential items.
Sarma also announced that a further tranche of ₹10,000 would be released in the coming days for severely affected families in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.
The additional support will be even more helpful to families who suffered the most serious damage. The government will examine the situation in the two districts and identify families who can be identified through local assessments.
About flood relief assistance, the Chief Minister said the state government had also transferred the state subsidy under PM Surya Ghar Yojana to eligible beneficiaries as well.
The inclusion of the subsidy in the current transfer is part of the government’s effort to combine disaster relief support and assistance under ongoing welfare and renewable-energy programmes.
PM Surya Ghar Yojana aims to encourage the installation of rooftop solar systems and reduce household electricity costs. Beneficiaries are provided financial support to cover the cost of installing solar panels.
The transfer of flood relief assistance and eligible scheme benefits will offer financial assistance to households during a difficult period.
Sarma said the state government stood firmly with families who had suffered the hardships caused by the floods.
“We stand firmly with our family members who had to endure such difficulties,” the Chief Minister said.
The decision has highlighted the impact of direct benefit transfers in emergency relief. When governments are able to directly credit the money to the bank accounts, the delay in transfers is eliminated, and families are able to use it where they are in need of immediate relief.
But that interim assistance is not to replace the final compensation process. Officials will continue to assess damage to homes, crop losses and other effects and to determine additional compensation.
The state government should coordinate with district administration and disaster management to ensure that eligible families get assistance, he said.
The latest transfer is among the major financial relief measures announced by the Assam government after the floods. Further updates may be given after damage assessments are completed and compensation is approved.
For now, nearly 75,000 severely affected households have received ₹15,000 each as immediate assistance, while families in Sivasagar and Charaideo that are severely affected will receive another ₹10,000 in the coming days.
The release of about ₹160 crore will provide immediate financial support to flood-hit families and help them begin rebuilding while the government completes the process of assessing long-term losses.
