Assam MLAs pledge one month's salary as parties unite for flood relief

Members of the Assam Legislative Assembly on July 28 pledged to donate one month's salary towards flood relief, with legislators across party lines extending support to people affected by the devastating floods in the state.

The announcement was backed by both the ruling party and the Opposition. Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Sherman Ali Ahmed said his party's MLA would also contribute one month's salary. AIUDF legislators echoed the move, stating that besides party president Badruddin Ajmal's earlier personal contribution of Rs 2 crore, all AIUDF MLAs would donate their salaries and the party would provide an additional Rs 2 lakh towards relief efforts.

The unanimous commitment came as Assam continues to grapple with widespread flood damage, particularly in Upper Assam.

The ruling BJP has also launched a statewide fundraising drive among its workers to support relief measures. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the party plans to distribute clothes to two lakh women and two lakh children in the severely affected districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat.

Sarma said the initiative would require around Rs 12 crore and appealed to BJP workers to contribute. He added that party workers from outside Assam had also assured support and expressed confidence that the required amount would be raised within the next few days.

The chief minister said donations of up to Rs 2,000 could be handed over to local BJP MLAs, while larger contributions should be deposited into the Assam BJP's bank account.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika announced that the state government would distribute paddy seeds and seedlings free of cost to flood-affected farmers in Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo within the next four to five days. He said he would personally monitor the distribution process.

Earlier this week, AIUDF president and former Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal announced a personal contribution of Rs 2 crore towards flood relief and rehabilitation after visiting affected areas in Charaideo and Sivasagar. He also urged the Centre to announce a special relief package of Rs 10,000 crore for Assam, saying the scale of destruction required long-term rehabilitation and a coordinated humanitarian response.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who recently visited flood-hit areas, reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to assisting Assam and said the Union government was working closely with the state administration to ensure timely relief and that affected families received essential supplies.