Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday evening announced a comprehensive relief package for individuals and businesses impacted by Cyclone Arnab.
The announcement followed a high-level review meeting held at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office to assess post-cyclone relief, restoration, and damage estimation efforts across the state.
The review meeting was attended by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Majhi stated that the state government is in continuous communication with the Union Government regarding the impact of the cyclone and the ongoing relief operations. He discussed the situation directly with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
An Inter-Ministerial Central Team is scheduled to visit Odisha on November 2 to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the damage, focusing on the worst-affected districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.
Cyclone Arnab Aftermath: 8-Member Central Team to Tour Cyclone-Hit Odisha from Nov 2
Highlighting the state’s readiness to handle disasters, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Odisha government stands fully committed to assisting all affected residents, just as it has done during past natural calamities.
In light of warnings regarding another potential cyclonic system, ‘Murasu’, CM Majhi instructed that all government disaster response teams currently deployed in various regions must remain at their designated locations to respond immediately to emerging situations.
Key Highlights:
- Immediate Gratuitous Relief: Every affected family will receive 50 kilograms of rice and financial assistance of Rs 2,500.
- Agriculture & Crop Loss Subsidies: Farmers suffering 33% or more crop damage will receive input subsidies for up to 2 hectares.
- Un-irrigated land: Rs 8,500 per hectare (minimum Rs 1,000)
- Irrigated land: Rs 17,000 per hectare (minimum Rs 2,000)
- Perennial crops: Rs 22,500 per hectare (minimum Rs 2,500)
- Sand and silt removal from farmland: Rs 18,000 per hectare (minimum Rs 2,200)
- Distribution of 1,75,000 special seed minikits (1,20,000 pulse, 5,000 oilseed, and 50,000 vegetable seed kits).
- Special assistance for 2,000 hectares of sugarcane cultivation: Rs 27,500 per hectare for space transplanting or Rs 12,500 per hectare for ratoon management.
- 75% subsidy on pesticides and bio-pesticides for the upcoming Rabi 2026-27 season.
- Agricultural Credit & Loans: Short-term Kharif loans for farmers with 33%+ crop loss will be converted into medium-term loans. Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) will be formed to extend credit to sharecroppers, landless farmers, and oral lessees for the Rabi season.
- Housing Assistance:
- Fully/severely damaged houses: Rs 1,20,000 in plain areas; Rs 1,30,000 in hilly areas.
- Partially damaged Pucca houses: Rs 6,500 | Partially damaged Kutcha houses: Rs 4,000.
- Damaged huts: Rs 8,000 | Damaged cattle sheds: Rs 3,000.
- Clothing & utensil assistance: Rs 2,500 for clothing and Rs 2,500 for utensils for families whose homes were completely washed away, destroyed, or inundated for more than two days.
- Livestock Compensation & Dairy Support:
- Milch cows/buffaloes: Rs 37,500 | Sheep/goats/pigs: Rs 4,000.
- Large pack animals (oxen, horses, camels): Rs 32,000 | Small pack animals (calves, donkeys, mules): Rs 20,000.
- Poultry: Rs 100 per bird (up to ₹10,000). Subsidies will aid 1,000 farmers in replacing livestock.
- 5,000 affected dairy farmers will receive up to 500 kg of cattle feed (100 kg per animal).
- Assistance under the Chief Minister Krushi Udyog Yojana for restoring poultry farms suffering over 70% damage (up to 200 units).
- Fisheries Sector:
- Fish farmers: Up to 75% financial assistance at Rs 1,12,500 per hectare.
- Traditional/Inland boats & nets: Rs 22,500 for damaged boats; Rs 15,000 for nets.
- Marine & Chilika fishers: Rs 60,000 for damaged boats; Rs 15,000 for nets.
- Pond repair: Up to Rs 1,75,000 per hectare for repairing breached bunds and soil erosion, including community ponds leased by Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs).
- MSMEs, Shopkeepers & Street Vendors:
- Loan assistance up to Rs 12 lakh with a 25% subsidy on up to Rs 3 lakh (provided directly to banks by the state government).
- Street vendors/kiosks: Rs 10,000 grant | Commercial shops & establishments: Rs 25,000 grant.
- Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs): Eligible affected WSHGs will receive an additional seed money grant of ₹5,000.
- Handicrafts, Handlooms & Sericulture:
- Weavers & artisans: Rs 5,000 per head for equipment replacement + Rs 5,000 for raw material loss.
- Sericulture input support: Rs 6,000 per hectare (Eri, Mulberry, Tasar) and Rs 7,500 per hectare (Muga). Completely damaged rearing houses will receive Rs 1,75,000.
- Lift Irrigation Restoration: The Chief Minister directed the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation to repair and restore all lift irrigation points in affected villages on a priority basis prior to the Rabi cropping season.
