The Centre has approved housing assistance worth approximately Rs 5,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for flood-affected families in Assam, along with a series of measures to strengthen agricultural and rural development support in the state.
The decisions were taken during a meeting between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, Chouhan formally handed over approval for 3.8 lakh new houses under PMAY-G to Assam.
The Union minister also announced a 15-day extension of the survey period under the scheme to ensure that no eligible flood-affected family is left out of the housing assistance programme.
In a social media post following the meeting, Chouhan said housing approvals worth approximately Rs 5,000 crore had been granted for flood-affected families under PMAY-G and that the survey period had been extended by 15 days to ensure coverage of all eligible families.
The meeting also focused on the extensive impact of the floods on agriculture and the need to strengthen assistance for affected farmers. Eligible families of tea garden workers will also be brought under PMAY benefits through a digital survey after they receive land pattas.
For flood-affected farmers, action plans worth Rs 832.70 crore have been approved under the Agriculture Unnati Yojana and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). In addition, Rs 33.36 crore has been sanctioned for agricultural mechanisation and Rs 96.87 crore under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
Chouhan also handed over a sanction letter for Rs 139 crore under RKVY to Assam to boost agricultural investment and promote sustainable farming practices in the state.
Sarma thanked the Union minister for what he described as his “priority and support”, and appreciated the speed with which the decisions were taken. In a social media post, the Chief Minister said he had conveyed his gratitude to Chouhan on behalf of the people of Assam for his swift decisions and continued support during the state’s flood response.
The assistance comes as Assam continues to deal with the devastating impact of a severe flood season. The state witnessed one of its worst floods in more than six decades this year, with over 105 people killed and vast stretches of residential and agricultural land devastated, particularly in Upper Assam.
As of Tuesday, 91 villages across 10 districts continued to reel under the impact of floods that swept through four districts of Upper Assam from July 19 onwards.
