Guwahati: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised questions over the financial assistance available to Assam in the aftermath of the state’s devastating floods, calling on the Centre to provide a special relief package of ₹10,000 crore for recovery and rehabilitation.
In a social media post on Thursday, Gogoi focused on the role of the PM CARES Fund and questioned whether its resources had been sufficiently utilised to support Assam during the recent flood emergency.
Referring to the latest audited figures of the fund, the Congress leader claimed that the PM CARES Fund had accumulated a corpus of ₹8,452 crore. He alleged that a large portion of the amount, nearly 93%, had been placed in fixed deposits, while expenditure during the 2024–25 financial year stood at around ₹87.85 lakh.
Gogoi also pointed to the financial assistance released to Assam through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). According to him, the Centre sanctioned ₹379.35 crore as the first instalment of SDRF assistance for the state.
Questioning the broader purpose of the PM CARES Fund, Gogoi said that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) already exists to provide assistance during major disasters and emergencies. He argued that the government should clarify how the PM CARES Fund is being used when states facing large-scale natural disasters require additional financial support.
According to Gogoi, the fund was established to mobilise and utilise resources from multiple sources during emergencies. However, he alleged that Assam did not receive support from the fund at a time when the state was dealing with extensive flood damage.
He further said that many flood-affected communities had to depend on assistance from voluntary organisations, charitable groups and individual donors for relief and support.
Calling for a larger intervention from the Central government, the Congress MP urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a ₹10,000-crore special package for Assam.
Gogoi said the proposed financial package should address both immediate losses and the long-term reconstruction needs of the state. He highlighted damage to roads, educational institutions, commercial establishments and drinking water facilities, among other public infrastructure affected by the floods.
The Congress leader’s remarks come as Assam continues to face the consequences of widespread flooding and erosion, with demands growing for greater financial assistance and comprehensive rehabilitation measures for affected communities.
