Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday, 31 July alleged that Assam received just ₹205.31 crore — roughly 2.4% — of the ₹8,393.98 crore it sought from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) between 2019 and 2024, raising sharp questions about Central disaster aid to the flood-battered state. The Jorhat MP made the allegations via a post on social media platform X, amid an ongoing flood crisis across Assam.

The Central Aid Shortfall

According to Gogoi, Assam formally requested ₹8,393.98 crore from the NDRF over five years but received only ₹205.31 crore in return. He argued this represented a near-total denial of disaster relief from the Centre at a time when the state's flood vulnerability remains acute. The Centre's disaster assistance framework, he noted, permits adjustment of up to 50% of a state's unspent State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) balance against approved NDRF assistance before fresh funds are released — a provision that has compounded the effective shortfall.

Unspent State Funds Draw Scrutiny

Gogoi simultaneously turned the lens on the state government, citing Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) findings that showed nearly ₹1,112 crore under the SDRF remained unspent as of 31 March 2025. An additional ₹342 crore under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund had also not been utilised, he alleged. 'Every rupee left unutilised carries a cost. It is borne by vulnerable flood-affected communities at a time when they need help the most,' Gogoi said in his post.

Erosion Rehabilitation Package Stuck in Limbo

The Congress leader also flagged delays in a rehabilitation package for families displaced by riverbank erosion. The 15th Finance Commission had earmarked ₹1,000 crore under the NDRF's Recovery and Reconstruction window specifically for resettlement of erosion-affected families in Assam. Citing a reply to a Lok Sabha query he himself had raised, Gogoi said the Union government confirmed that Assam's proposal seeking ₹526 crore — approved in February 2025 — was examined by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and returned to the state for revision. As of his statement, there was no public information on whether the revised proposal had been resubmitted or when the Centre would release the funds.

Gogoi on the Ground in Mariani

Separately, Gogoi visited flood-affected villages in the Mariani Assembly constituency on Friday, including Dhontula, where a breached embankment has inundated large stretches of land. He inspected ongoing restoration work and distributed relief materials, also interacting with affected residents in Hahsora Chetia Gaon and Panigaon. He urged authorities to expedite relief, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery measures.

Broader Context

Assam's annual flood cycle is among the most severe in India, with the Brahmaputra and its tributaries regularly displacing lakhs of people. Critics have long argued that both the Centre and successive state governments have treated flood management as an emergency response rather than a structural challenge. This is not the first time the NDRF-SDRF utilisation gap has been flagged — the CAG has raised similar concerns in previous audit cycles. Whether Gogoi's data triggers a formal Central review or remains a political flashpoint ahead of the next election cycle remains to be seen.