Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a sweeping recovery plan for Upper Assam districts hit by recent floods. Relief efforts focus on Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat. The government will start issuing Rs 15,000 to affected families beginning August 2 or 3. Teachers are currently verifying beneficiary lists to finalize payments.
Sarma confirmed a six-month loan moratorium for housing, vehicle, farm, education, and self-help group loans starting July 19. Retailers in these zones can also access a new Rs 10,000 loan without collateral. “I convened a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee to discuss loan repayment of flood-hit consumers,” Sarma said. Eligible borrowers may also request a loan tenure extension of six months to one year.
Schools face a heavy restoration burden. Nearly 550 schools in Sivasagar alone suffered damage. The state released Rs 8 crore for uniforms and is distributing free textbooks. Schools will receive between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for mud removal and general repairs. Classes should resume by August 9, though officials may push this to August 15 if work stalls.
A formal damage survey begins August 7. Teams have 15 days to finish the assessment. The state has already distributed 23,730 quintals of rice, 4,541 quintals of pulses, and 118,110 litres of mustard oil. Specific aid tiers of Rs 1,000, Rs 3,000, and Rs 5,000 are designated for students based on their individual losses.
Sarma will meet with insurance companies and Non-Banking Financial Companies on August 5. The talks aim to speed up settlements for vehicles, livestock, and life insurance claims. Additionally, Namghars in Sivasagar and Charaideo will receive a one-time grant of Rs 1.5 lakh each. Infrastructure repairs, including roads and embankments, start in September.
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