Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that an interim relief amounting to ₹25.12 crore has been transferred to 16,746 families affected by this year’s floods in the state, officials said.
Who received the first tranche
The cash transfers — of ₹15,000 per family — were made to households in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts, the chief minister said while outlining the government’s relief and restoration measures. He framed the move as an unprecedented step by the state administration to accelerate rehabilitation and help affected people resume normal life.
"The state’s revenue department has created a new benchmark for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people," the chief minister said.
Scope of the relief programme
The government has proposed one‑time interim assistance for 1,17,095 households, which would entail disbursing a total of ₹175 crore when completed, Sarma said. In addition to the cash assistance, funds have been earmarked for repair and restoration of public infrastructure damaged by the floods.
- Immediate cash aid: ₹15,000 per household for 16,746 families (₹25.12 crore already transferred).
- Wider interim plan: One‑time assistance for 1,17,095 households, totalling ₹175 crore.
- Targeted community repairs: Funds already released for repair of schools, anganwadis and namghars.
Funds released so far and restoration targets
Sarma said the state has released several specific allocations to restore public facilities in the worst affected districts. The disbursements he cited included:
| Purpose | Amount released |
|---|---|
| Repair of schools | ₹15 crore |
| Anganwadi repairs | ₹11 crore |
| Namghar restoration | ₹16 crore |
Work has also been initiated for roads and water supply projects. The chief minister said repair efforts include 405 roads and 244 water supply schemes across the four most affected districts, and that in total ₹300 crore has already been released for repair and restoration.
Assessment and next steps
The government described the relief effort as phased. A digital damage assessment carried out by a team of 1,182 teachers identified 95,545 families in an initial survey as affected by the floods. A second phase of the damage assessment is scheduled for this month, after which the administration expects to finalise further financial requirements. The chief minister estimated that post‑assessment expenditures could exceed ₹1,000 crore.
Sarma also noted additional short‑term support to existing welfare beneficiaries: women receiving the Orunodoi cash transfer in Sivasagar and Charaideo will get ₹2,000 this month. He said the usual monthly amount is ₹1,250 but that last month, beneficiaries in some flood‑hit districts had received ₹2,500.
Centre‑state coordination and funding assurance
Asked about central assistance, the chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that funds would not be a constraint for helping affected people. The state expects this assurance to smooth the flow of resources required for larger rehabilitation projects following completion of the damage assessment.
Officials said the revenue department handled the initial transfers into beneficiary accounts. Local administrations in the affected districts have been tasked with supervising repair works and ensuring that the released funds are used for restoration of essential services and community infrastructure.
Implications for affected communities
The relief measures cover both immediate household needs and the repair of shared facilities such as schools and religious centres, which are central to community life in Assam’s flood‑prone districts. Restoring water supply and road linkages will be crucial for livelihoods, education continuity and access to health services as the monsoon season progresses.
Further disbursements and detailed lists of beneficiary households are expected to be published after the next phase of the damage assessment. State authorities said they will continue to monitor situational needs and coordinate with district administrations to prioritise the most vulnerable families.
Reporting from Guwahati.
