Centre & Assam Capable Of Managing Floods, No Foreign Aid Required: CM Sarma

Guwahati, July 29: Assam Chief Dr Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday dismissed the requirement for international assistance toward Assam's flood relief and rehabilitation framework, emphasizing that both the State and Central administrations possess the complete capability to handle the crisis as operational priorities shift from rescue missions to rehabilitation.

​Addressing mediapersons after flagging off relief supplies organized by the Assam BJP for flood-impacted households at the state party headquarters, Sarma noted that any external contributions must strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), while reiterating that the administration has not solicited global aid.

​"The Central government and the Assam government are competent. If someone wishes to contribute, they have to go by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) rules. We don't appeal for any international aid as there is no necessity," he stated.

​While noting that the overall flood situation has shown improvement following an absence of rainfall since July 21, the Chief Minister cautioned that the humanitarian crisis persists due to extensive structural damage.

“The flood as a whole is subsiding, but the damage is so huge that many people are not in a position to return home. Houses have been destroyed, mud has entered homes, and there are still areas that remain inaccessible because roads are blocked by silt and debris carried down from the hills of Nagaland. The difficulty, pain and misery continue, and our priority now is to address the plight of the affected people,”he said.

Sarma said the next phase of the government's response would focus on rehabilitation, including medical camps, disposal of dead livestock and reconstruction of damaged houses. He added that BJP workers, along with ministers, MLAs and booth-level functionaries, would continue assisting affected families alongside government agencies.

He also announced that the State government would hold a meeting with banks on Thursday to discuss relief measures for flood-affected borrowers, particularly regarding loan repayments and instalments.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have already advised banks to hold discussions on the matter. The State government and the BJP party will entirely serve the people of Assam,” he said.

Sarma highlighted the relief measures announced by the State government on Tuesday. These include Rs 4 lakh as government ex gratia for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the floods, along with an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, taking the total compensation to Rs 9 lakh. Similar financial assistance will be provided to the families of those who remain missing after one month, if they are still untraced.

The measures also include early disbursal of the Orunodoi benefit on August 1 instead of August 3, along with special assistance of Rs 2,500 for flood-affected beneficiary families. The government will also provide free textbooks and school uniforms to affected students, financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for Higher Secondary students, Rs 3,000 for undergraduate students and Rs 5,000 for postgraduate students, free re-issuance of academic documents lost in the floods, and immediate financial assistance of Rs 17,500 along with an additional Rs 15,000 per affected family in the four flood-hit districts.

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The Chief Minister said the relief campaign was launched on the advice of Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, MP and complemented relief work already being carried out by party workers across the state. Relief materials have been dispatched to Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat, the four worst-affected districts.

According to Sarma, the consignment includes about 1.8 lakh mekhela chadors for women, 1.8 lakh T-shirts for children and infants, and 1.5 lakh mosquito nets. He said the initiative was funded entirely through contributions collected by BJP workers at the grassroots level.

He said the Assam BJP had so far mobilised and distributed relief materials worth Rs 16 crore, including donations received from party workers across the state. A BJP delegation left the party headquarters carrying relief materials worth Rs 16 crore for Charaideo and Sivasagar districts. Relief will also be provided to affected families in Jorhat and Golaghat.

Sarma said the floods, triggered by heavy rainfall in Nagaland on July 19, severely affected parts of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. The disaster claimed several lives, damaged thousands of houses and affected nearly 11 lakh people across 2,101 villages where 75 people lost their lives till now.

He also thanked NGOs, voluntary organisations and individuals who participated in the relief operations. He noted that many BJP workers who had themselves lost their homes continued to assist flood-affected communities.

“The BJP workers will remain ready to assist wherever the government or other organisations are unable to reach,” he added.