Akhil Gogoi Launches Hunger Strike Seeking Greater Aid for Assam Flood Victims

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi launched an eight-hour hunger strike on Friday, pressing the authorities to provide increased financial assistance to families affected by the severe floods in Upper Assam. The protest was aimed at drawing attention to the continuing hardships faced by residents whose homes, livelihoods and belongings were damaged by the recent flooding.

Gogoi said the impact of the disaster remained particularly severe in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat, with many affected families still struggling to return to normal life. According to the legislator, the situation has prevented numerous residents from observing Independence Day in the same manner as people elsewhere in the country.

One of the principal demands raised during the protest was Rs 10 lakh in compensation for every flood-affected family in Sivasagar district. Gogoi also called for a special Rs 1,000-crore financial package covering Sivasagar and Nazira constituencies, which he described as among the areas that suffered extensive damage.

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Speaking during the hunger strike, Gogoi described the scale of destruction as exceptionally serious and criticised what he termed an inadequate response from the Centre to the crisis. He argued that the affected population required substantially greater support to rebuild homes, replace essential belongings and restore livelihoods.

The MLA also raised concerns over the possible environmental factors behind the severity of the flooding. He alleged that extensive coal and stone mining in Assam and neighbouring Nagaland may have contributed to worsening the situation, arguing that the disaster should not be viewed solely through the lens of natural causes.

Gogoi has been consistently seeking enhanced relief measures for flood-hit families, including financial assistance and a dedicated rehabilitation programme for severely affected communities.

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The eight-hour protest was organised to intensify pressure on the authorities and highlight what Gogoi described as gaps in the government’s relief and compensation measures. His demands centre on immediate financial support for affected households as well as a broader rehabilitation strategy for the worst-hit parts of Upper Assam.