Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday, 29 July demanded a sweeping increase in financial assistance for Assam's flood-hit families, calling the state government's existing relief package 'grossly inadequate' against the scale of devastation wrought by this year's floods. Addressing reporters in Sivasagar, Gogoi pressed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to secure a dedicated ₹400 crore package from the Centre for the constituency alone.

What Gogoi Demanded

The opposition MLA called for a one-time compensation of ₹10 lakh for every flood-affected family, arguing that the state government's announced relief of ₹15,000 for severely affected households was wholly insufficient for families who had lost homes, agricultural land, livestock, and livelihoods. He claimed that nearly 40,000 families in the Sivasagar Assembly constituency alone had been impacted.

Gogoi held up photographs of damaged houses and inundated villages to illustrate the breadth of the crisis, noting that the floods had not spared middle-class households — a segment often overlooked in disaster relief frameworks.

Call for Central Intervention

Urging greater involvement from New Delhi, Gogoi asked Chief Minister Sarma to present photographic evidence of the destruction directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and press for a comprehensive financial package for Assam. He alleged that despite Sarma's recent visit to New Delhi and a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, no special package had been secured for the state.

Gogoi further claimed that the Chief Minister had failed to obtain an appointment with the Prime Minister — a charge that, if accurate, would signal a significant gap in the state's ability to mobilise Central support at a critical moment. He appealed to all Members of Parliament from Assam to jointly raise the issue with the Prime Minister and demand immediate relief.

Orunodoi Scheme and Women Beneficiaries

While welcoming the state government's decision to enhance benefits under the Orunodoi scheme, Gogoi urged that the enhanced benefits be extended to every woman belonging to a flood-affected family — not just existing scheme members. The Orunodoi scheme provides direct financial transfers to women in economically vulnerable households.

Economic Setback and Protest Warning

Describing the floods as one of the worst natural disasters in Assam's recorded history, Gogoi alleged the crisis had not received the national attention it warranted. He claimed that the inundation had pushed families in Sivasagar and Nazira back by nearly two decades economically.

Warning of intensified agitation, Gogoi said he would lead demonstrations by flood-affected residents — including a protest outside the Chief Minister's residence — if adequate compensation was not delivered. He added that the state government would be held accountable if the proposed ₹400 crore Centre package was not secured.