Dibrugarh: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday disbursed the first interim tranche of financial ex gratia, amounting to Rs 15,000 each, to nearly 75,000 flood-affected families across the four worst-hit districts of Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat, from the chief minister’s secretariat in Dibrugarh.The disbursement marks the beginning of the compensation package announced earlier by the CM to help flood victims rebuild homes and livelihoods devastated by this year’s deluge.Giving a district-wise breakdown of the beneficiaries covered in the first phase, Sarma said 35,298 families from Sivasagar, 19,883 from Charaideo, 4,922 from Jorhat and 2,593 families from Golaghat district received the interim relief.“More families will also receive the interim ex gratia in their bank accounts, which will continue to be credited till Aug 5,” Sarma told reporters at the secretariat.The CM said the remaining eligible beneficiaries would receive the amount over the next couple of days once verification of their bank account details is completed by district administrations. He assured that the process was being carried out on a war footing to ensure no genuine flood victim was left out.“Our govt stands firmly with every flood-affected family in Upper Assam. This interim relief is only the first step. We are committed to ensuring complete rehabilitation support reaches every household that has suffered losses,” Sarma said.He added that district officials were directed to expedite verification so that delays do not add to the hardship already faced by flood victims.Sarma further announced that a second tranche of Rs 10,000 would be released to marooned families in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts who are unable to return to their homes till Aug 9.“Families who are still marooned and cannot go back to their houses in Sivasagar and Charaideo will get an additional Rs 10,000 as a second tranche. This is to ensure that those bearing the brunt of prolonged displacement are not left to fend for themselves,” Sarma said.Alongside the flood relief disbursement, the CM also launched the state subsidy component under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for eligible flood-affected households, extending the Centre’s rooftop solar scheme benefits to families rebuilding after the disaster.
