Assam Rolls Out Flood Relief: Loans Paused, Schools Rebuilding

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has triggered a massive recovery plan for flood-stricken districts. Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat are the primary focus. A six-month moratorium on loan repayments starts July 19 for residents in these four areas. It covers housing, education, vehicle, farm, and self-help group loans. Only standard loan accounts qualify. No non-performing assets are eligible.

Banks will verify individual cases. Borrowers must pay as scheduled if unaffected. Sarma said, "The benefit would be extended only to customers whose livelihoods and assets had been impacted by the floods." Small traders facing total losses gain an extra Rs 10,000 credit without collateral. Repayment tenures will stretch from one to seven years depending on the loan category. State officials will approach the RBI to seek similar relief for borrowers tied to non-banking financial companies.

The state flood death toll hit 80. More than 2.12 lakh people remain affected. Interim cash aid of Rs 15,000 per household begins August 2 or 3. Teachers are currently verifying beneficiary lists. A broader damage survey starts August 7, aiming to finish within 15 days.

Schools face a long road to normalcy. Nearly 550 schools in Sivasagar alone need work. The government allocated Rs 8 crore for uniforms and is funding school cleaning efforts with Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per site. Barpeta and Bajali teachers are donating 41,000 textbooks to replenish lost materials. Officials hope to reopen classrooms by August 9. If restoration stalls, they may delay until August 15.

Infrastructure remains battered. Forty-five roads sustained damage, totaling nearly 100 km. Authorities have cleared 16 for traffic. Namghars in Sivasagar and Charaideo will receive Rs 1.5 lakh grants for repairs. A cabinet team heads to Upper Assam Friday to manage the recovery. Beyond immediate aid, the government will consult insurance firms on August 5 to settle claims for vehicles and livestock. Permanent infrastructure repairs are slated to begin in September.