Sivasagar legislator and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi has launched an indefinite satyagraha against the Assam administration, pointing to significant delays in distributing promised one-time interim cash assistance to flood-hit households across four districts. The protest commenced at 10:30 am on October 2, right after a government deadline set by the leader expired without the promised relief reaching the affected families.
Demands for Interim Aid and Enhanced Compensation
The agitation centers on the plight of flood victims located in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts. Key demands presented to the state include an immediate one-time interim assistance payout of Rs 15,000 for every affected family across all four regions. Furthermore, the legislator has sought a supplementary grant of Rs 10,000 specifically for the affected residents of Sivasagar and Charaideo to help them recover from the devastation.
Gaps in Relief Distribution on the Ground
According to claims made by the lawmaker, approximately 30 to 40 per cent of flood victims across the four districts have not received the basic Rs 15,000 interim relief. The backlog appears even more severe regarding the supplementary assistance, with claims indicating that not a single flood-affected person in Sivasagar and Charaideo has been provided the additional Rs 10,000 assistance so far. These delays prompted the call for sustained public demonstration.
Direct Appeal to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Reaffirming his stance, the MLA addressed a formal communication to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 3, marking a copy to the Chief Secretary of Assam. Emphasizing his determination, Gogoi stated in the letter,
“I would like to reiterate that till the demands are fulfilled by the government, my Satyagraha would be continued.”The letter urged the Chief Minister to intervene promptly and ensure that the administrative bottlenecks delaying relief distribution are resolved without further delay.
Protest Timeline Stemming from Guwahati Gathering
The current demonstration follows an earlier mobilization on September 23 at the Chachal Dharna Ground in Guwahati. During that public meeting, leaders had called for both urgent interim payments and comprehensive compensation amounting to Rs 10 lakh for each flood-hit family in the four districts. A memorandum submitted to an official government representative during the September 23 gathering had stipulated October 1 as the deadline for fulfilling these demands, warning of an agitation starting October 2 if the state failed to act.
