Odisha CM announces relief package for Cyclone Arnab victims
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced 50kg of rice and ₹2,500 for every family affected by the cyclone and floods.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a special assistance package on Sunday for families and farmers affected by Cyclone Arnab and heavy rainfall, according to The Hindu and ANI. The relief includes 50kg of rice and ₹2,500 in cash for every affected family, particularly in the southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.
The Chief Minister stated that thousands of acres of crops and several houses have been damaged. He noted that the primary task is relief distribution and restoration while damage assessments continue. Majhi said the relief package will be reviewed again after assessing damage once the upcoming cyclonic storm passes.
For farmers with crop losses of 33 per cent or more, the government will provide an agricultural input subsidy. This includes ₹8,500 per hectare for unirrigated land and ₹17,000 per hectare for irrigated areas. Perennial crops like mango and cashew will receive ₹22,500 per hectare assistance.
The state will also provide ₹18,000 to each affected farmer to remove sand and silt from fields. Regarding housing, families with fully damaged houses in the plains will receive ₹1.20 lakh, while those in hilly areas will receive ₹1.30 lakh. Partially damaged pucca and kutcha houses will receive ₹6,500 and ₹4,000 respectively.
Additional compensation includes ₹10,000 for small shops and kiosks, and ₹25,000 for big commercial establishments. Fisherfolk will receive ₹22,500 for boat purchases and ₹15,000 for fishing nets. Artisans in the handicrafts and handloom sector will receive ₹5,000 for equipment replacement and ₹5,000 for loss of raw materials or finished goods.