Assam flood: Chief Secretary reviews rehabilitation measures
Guwahati, Aug 7 (IANS) Assam Chief Secretary, Ravi Kota, on Friday reviewed the progress of flood relief and rehabilitation measures in four of the state’s worst-affected districts, directing officials to expedite damage assessment, financial assistance and livelihood restoration through close coordination among government agencies, banks and insurance companies.
Chairing a high-level meeting of the District Consultative Committee (DCC) via video conference, the Chief Secretary interacted with officials from Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo and Golaghat districts to assess the implementation of relief measures and ensure timely support for flood-hit families.
The meeting was attended by district commissioners, representatives of banks, insurance companies and various line departments, with discussions focussing on improving coordination in damage assessment, financial aid and insurance claim settlement.
Kota emphasised the need for a multi-agency approach backed by daily monitoring to ensure relief reaches beneficiaries without delay.
He instructed officials to strengthen institutional coordination and remove bottlenecks in rehabilitation efforts.
A detailed review was conducted on the assessment of losses across key sectors, including agriculture, livestock, fisheries, housing, MSMEs and other livelihood activities.
Officials were directed to complete authenticated, technology-enabled damage assessments with field-level verification by August 14.
Sector-wise assessment reports are to be submitted before the respective committees by August 18 to facilitate timely processing of relief and rehabilitation assistance.
To streamline insurance-related support, district-wise insurance nodal officers have already been designated for the four districts.
Dedicated review mechanisms have also been established to monitor claim processing and resolve operational issues in coordination with district administrations.
Taking note of the difficulties faced by flood victims who have lost important documents, the Chief Secretary instructed authorities to simplify documentation procedures and permit alternative methods of verification wherever original records have been damaged or destroyed.
Banks were advised to proactively reach out to affected borrowers over the next two weeks and extend relief measures such as loan moratoriums, restructuring of existing loans, fresh credit assistance and consumption loans to help families meet immediate financial requirements.
Insurance companies were also directed to operationalise dedicated helplines and expedite claim settlements.
The state government said the coordinated exercise aims to ensure transparent, compassionate and efficient rehabilitation while helping flood-affected families rebuild their lives and livelihoods at the earliest.
–IANS
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