CPI(M) will stage statewide protests in Assam on August 21, seeking national disaster status, enhanced flood compensation and a permanent solution
Guwahati: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will observe a statewide ‘Demand Day’ on August 21, pressing the Centre and Assam government to recognise the state’s recurring flood crisis as a national issue and take concrete steps towards a long-term solution.
The party has demanded a national disaster declaration for Assam’s floods, along with an expert inquiry into the causes behind the worsening flood situation and a time-bound programme to address the problem. In Guwahati, the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district committee will organise a protest and dharna outside Meghdoot Bhawan at Panbazar from 11 a.m.
The CPI(M) has also called for enhanced relief and compensation for flood-affected families. Its demands include Rs 20 lakh for the families of those killed, Rs 1 lakh in immediate assistance for each affected family and up to Rs 10 lakh for completely destroyed houses.
CPI(M) Assam State Committee secretary Suprakash Talukdar said the unprecedented flooding that began in Sivasagar and Charaideo from July 19 and later affected Jorhat, Golaghat and other districts had left thousands of families struggling to recover. He said the government should constitute an expert committee to investigate the factors responsible for the severity of the floods and submit its findings within a stipulated timeframe.
The party has also called for an examination of concerns raised by residents over alleged illegal mining and environmental degradation in Assam and Nagaland, alongside natural factors contributing to the floods. It has sought an assessment of the cumulative impact of large dams in neighbouring states and Bhutan on Assam’s flood situation.
The CPI(M) further demanded that construction of large dams in neighbouring states be suspended until their cumulative impact on Assam is assessed. The party has submitted a 10-point relief and rehabilitation charter to the Assam government, seeking measures beyond immediate financial compensation.
Among its demands are at least Rs 5 lakh for severely damaged houses, increased compensation for crop and livestock losses, and free food supplies to flood-affected families for six months.
The CPI(M) has also called for the urgent distribution of free paddy seedlings to help farmers restart cultivation, along with healthcare facilities to prevent post-flood disease outbreaks and veterinary services in affected areas.
It has sought at least 200 days of government-supported employment in flood-ravaged villages, as well as special funds to repair damaged schools and Anganwadi centres.
For students affected by the floods, the party demanded free uniforms, books and financial assistance. It also called for a waiver of loans taken by families severely affected by the floods.
Talukdar said CPI(M) units across Assam would organise protests on August 21 and submit memoranda to the authorities, reiterating the party’s demand for stronger relief measures and a permanent solution to the state’s recurring flood crisis.
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