Bajali: The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Tuesday urged the Assam government to significantly enhance relief and rehabilitation measures for flood-affected people, including increasing the one-time ex gratia for families of those killed in the floods to Rs 20 lakh.
Addressing a press conference, AJYCP general secretary Bijan Bayan alleged that the Centre ignores Assam during times of crisis, claiming national leaders visit the state before elections for its resources and political interests but fail to stand by its people during devastating floods.
The organisation announced that it would submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through its district committees, seeking immediate steps to strengthen relief, rehabilitation and economic recovery measures across the state.
Referring to the current flood situation, Bayan said the monsoon floods have so far claimed 68 lives and affected more than five lakh people across several districts, with Charaideo emerging as the worst-hit district. He said hundreds of relief camps continue to shelter thousands of displaced residents.
In its memorandum, AJYCP has sought an increase in the one-time ex gratia for families of flood victims to Rs 20 lakh and a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for every flood-affected family. It has also demanded reconstruction of houses of families rendered homeless, waiver of agricultural loans for farmers whose crops and farmlands have been damaged, and waiver of loans of flood-affected traders, small business owners and others whose livelihoods have been severely affected.
The organisation said recurring floods have caused widespread destruction across Assam, affecting thousands of families, farmers and businesses, and urged the state government to take immediate measures to ensure adequate relief as well as long-term rehabilitation for the affected population.