Assam Rolls Out Financial Relief as Flood Toll Hits 80

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced sweeping financial relief for flood victims across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat. The state's flood death toll reached 80 this week. More than 2.12 lakh people remain impacted in these four districts.

Sarma confirmed a six-month moratorium on all loan repayments for eligible borrowers. This relief applies to housing, education, vehicle, agricultural, and self-help group loans. Banks will verify individual cases before granting the stay. Borrowers currently holding non-performing assets are excluded. Repayment extensions ranging from one to seven years are now available depending on the loan category. Small retailers can also access an additional Rs 10,000 in credit without fresh collateral.

The State Level Bankers' Committee oversees approximately 3.18 lakh active loan accounts in these districts, totaling roughly Rs 11,400 crore. The government is also petitioning the Reserve Bank of India to extend similar protections to those holding loans with non-banking financial companies.

Direct cash assistance is accelerating. Starting August 1, 37.1 lakh women will receive Orunodoi scheme payments. Beneficiaries in the four flood-hit districts will receive an enhanced amount of Rs 2,500, double the standard installment. "From 1 August, we will resume Aadhaar-seeded Orunodoi transfers," Sarma said. Orunodoi Sahayaks will assist with the rollout.

Physical infrastructure and education recovery are priorities. Sivasagar district administration requested a 10-day extension for school reopenings until August 10. Nearly 500 schools and 70,000 students face disruption in that district alone. Additionally, the government will provide Rs 1.5 lakh to each damaged Namghar in Sivasagar and Charaideo. A comprehensive damage assessment for homes, livestock, and farmland begins August 7, building on an existing interim assistance package of Rs 15,000 per household.

Opposition party Assam Jatiya Parishad continues to push for broader relief. Party leaders Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Jagadish Bhuyan argued that current measures are insufficient. "The burden of repaying bank loans, housing loans, vehicle loans, business loans, microfinance loans, self-help group (SHG) loans, and other EMIs has become unbearable for flood-affected families," the party stated. They demand a complete waiver of penal interest and late fees for all flood-hit residents.