Assam flood: All MLAs to donate one month salary to Chief Minister Relief Fund
Synopsis
In an uncommon show of cross-party unity, every Assam MLA has pledged one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund as floods batter Upper Assam and displace over four lakh people. With the monsoon far from over, the Assembly's collective contribution signals both the scale of the crisis and the political pressure on the state government to deliver visible relief.
Key Takeaways
Speaker Biswajit Daimary announced on 28 July that all Assam MLAs will donate one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund .
The pledge cuts across party lines, with both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker also contributing one month's salary each.
Assam Legislative Assembly Secretariat staff have voluntarily agreed to contribute one day's salary.
Over four lakh people are affected across districts including Sivasagar , Golaghat , Charaideo , Jorhat , Nagaon , and Kamrup (Metropolitan) .
NDRF and SDRF teams are active on the ground alongside district administrations for rescue and relief operations.
Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary on Tuesday, 28 July announced that every Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) will contribute one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to support flood relief and rehabilitation in the worst-hit districts of Upper Assam. The move, backed by legislators across party lines, comes as floodwaters continue to devastate large swathes of the state, displacing thousands and damaging critical infrastructure.
Assembly's Bipartisan Pledge
Making the announcement from the floor of the House, Speaker Daimary said all MLAs — irrespective of party affiliation — had agreed to the contribution in response to the scale of destruction wrought by the floods. He added that both he and the Deputy Speaker would personally donate one month's salary each as a gesture of solidarity with flood-hit communities. Officers and employees of the Assam Legislative Assembly Secretariat have also voluntarily decided to contribute one day's salary to the relief fund.
Scale of the Flood Crisis
According to the latest official flood bulletin, over four lakh people have been affected across multiple districts, including Sivasagar, Golaghat, Charaideo, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Kamrup (Metropolitan). Floodwaters have inundated agricultural land, damaged infrastructure, and forced thousands to seek shelter in relief camps. Authorities have been distributing food, drinking water, medicines, and other essential supplies to those in camps and affected villages.
Relief Operations on the Ground
The state government has intensified rescue and rehabilitation efforts across affected districts, deploying the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district administrations, and other agencies. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's administration has drawn bipartisan support in the Assembly for its flood response, with the collective salary contribution signalling a rare show of cross-party unity in a crisis. Notably, this is one of the most significant voluntary contributions by elected representatives in the state's recent flood history.
About the Chief Minister's Relief Fund
The Chief Minister's Relief Fund is the state's primary mechanism for channelling immediate financial assistance during natural disasters and other emergencies. Contributions from elected representatives, government employees, organisations, and private individuals are pooled to fund on-ground relief and longer-term rehabilitation. The Assembly's collective pledge is expected to meaningfully bolster the fund's capacity to reach flood-affected families across Upper Assam.
What Comes Next
With the monsoon season still active, authorities have warned that water levels in several rivers remain above the danger mark, and fresh inundation in vulnerable districts cannot be ruled out. The focus now shifts to accelerating the disbursement of relief funds and restoring damaged infrastructure before the next wave of rains compounds the crisis.
Point of View
And what structural investments in embankments, drainage, and early-warning systems have actually been made? Voluntary contributions from legislators are welcome optics, but the Chief Minister's Relief Fund is a reactive tool — not a substitute for proactive flood management. With over four lakh people displaced and the monsoon only halfway through, the real test for the Himanta Biswa Sarma government is whether relief reaches the last village, not whether it reaches the fund.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Assam MLAs donating one month's salary?
All Assam MLAs have agreed to donate one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to support flood relief and rehabilitation in Upper Assam. The announcement was made by Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary on 28 July amid a severe flood situation affecting over four lakh people.
How many people have been affected by the Assam floods?
According to the latest official flood bulletin, over four lakh people have been affected across multiple districts including Sivasagar, Golaghat, Charaideo, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Kamrup (Metropolitan). Thousands have been forced to take shelter in relief camps.
Who made the announcement about the MLA salary donation?
Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary made the announcement on the floor of the House on Tuesday, 28 July. He also confirmed that both he and the Deputy Speaker would personally contribute one month's salary each.
What is the Chief Minister's Relief Fund used for?
The Chief Minister's Relief Fund is the state's primary mechanism for providing immediate financial assistance during natural disasters and emergencies. It pools contributions from elected representatives, government employees, organisations, and individuals to fund on-ground relief and rehabilitation.
Which agencies are conducting rescue operations in flood-hit Assam?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district administrations are leading rescue and relief operations across the affected districts of Upper Assam. Authorities are distributing food, drinking water, medicines, and essential supplies to those in relief camps and affected villages.
