Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a comprehensive special financial package of Rs 1,000 crore to accelerate relief, rescue, and rehabilitation operations across flood-affected districts following heavy rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
Reviewing the flood situation across impacted regions, Chief Minister Majhi outlined a ten-point targeted relief directive aimed at providing extensive support to disaster-hit citizens, farmers, and local infrastructure.
Key Highlights of the Ten-Point Relief Package:
Agricultural Subsidies: Farmers suffering 33 percent or higher crop losses will receive agricultural input subsidies per hectare based on land category—Rs 8,500 for non-irrigated land, Rs 17,000 for irrigated land, and Rs 22,500 for perennial crops.
Seed Purchase Assistance: Financial aid will be directly transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into affected farmers’ bank accounts to facilitate the procurement of paddy and non-paddy seeds.
Pest Control and Vegetable Kits: Affected farmers will receive free vegetable mini-kits, along with a 75 percent subsidy on post-flood pest and disease management solutions.
Irrigation Infrastructure: Damaged lift irrigation projects and related water works will undergo emergency repairs on a war footing.
Fisheries and Livestock Relief: Compensation will be allocated for livestock losses. Fishermen and aqua-farmers will receive dedicated assistance to repair damaged boats, fishing nets, and affected fish ponds.
Agricultural Loan Conversion: Short-term Kharif agricultural loans held by willing farmers will be converted into medium-term loans to alleviate immediate debt burdens.
Handicraft and Handloom Sector Support: Financial aid of Rs 5,000 will be extended to damaged craft equipment and tools, alongside an additional Rs 5,000 allowance for losses incurred on raw materials or finished goods.
Infrastructure Reconstruction: Temporary restoration of damaged roads and public infrastructure will begin immediately, with full financial allocation pledged for permanent reconstruction following a detailed post-flood assessment.
Food Security and Emergency Relief: Distribution of cooked and dry food, along with essential relief rice, will continue seamlessly across all inundated areas until conditions stabilize.
Household Assistance: Affected families will receive dedicated financial support to purchase essential clothing, utensils, and daily household items.
Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that restoring normalcy and extending complete assistance to citizens remain the state government’s highest priority. He added that following final ground-level assessments, allocation limits under the package may be expanded further if needed.