Bhubaneswar, 02 November (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on late Sunday evening announced a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for people affected by Cyclone Arnab, covering farmers, families whose houses were damaged, livestock owners, fishermen, women’s self-help groups, weavers, artisans and businesses.

Under the package, every affected family will receive 50 kg of rice and ₹2,500 in cash. Farmers who have suffered crop losses of 33 per cent or more will be eligible for input subsidies of up to two hectares. The assistance will be ₹8,500 per hectare for rain-fed land, ₹17,000 for irrigated land and ₹22,500 for perennial crops.

The announcement followed a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office in Bhubaneswar to assess relief, rehabilitation and damage caused by the cyclone.

Majhi said he was in regular touch with the Centre regarding the situation and had discussed the impact of the cyclone with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A central inter-ministerial team will visit Odisha on November 2 to assess the damage, particularly in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.

Expressing concern over the possibility of another cyclone, ‘Murasu’, the Chief Minister directed that government teams already deployed in affected areas should remain there and continue relief and monitoring operations.

Agriculture and housing assistance

Farmers suffering crop losses of at least 33 per cent will receive input subsidies at the prescribed rates. Assistance will also be provided for removing sand and silt from farmland at ₹18,000 per hectare, subject to a minimum of ₹2,200 per farmer.

The government will distribute 1.75 lakh special seed kits, including 1.20 lakh pulse kits, 5,000 oilseed kits and 50,000 vegetable seed kits. Special assistance will also be extended to sugarcane farmers in 2,000 hectares, while a 75 per cent subsidy on pesticides and bio-pesticides will be provided during the Rabi season of 2026-27.

Eligible farmers facing crop losses of 33 per cent or more may have their short-term Kharif loans converted into medium-term loans. Joint Liability Groups will be formed to facilitate Rabi loans for sharecroppers, landless farmers and cultivators working under oral agreements.

For houses that are fully or severely damaged, assistance of ₹1.20 lakh will be provided in plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh in hilly areas. Compensation will also be given for partially damaged houses, huts and cattle sheds. Families whose houses have been washed away, completely destroyed or remained submerged for more than two days will receive ₹2,500 each for clothing and household utensils.

Livestock and fisheries support

Compensation for the death of milch cattle and buffaloes has been fixed at ₹37,500 per animal, while ₹4,000 will be provided for sheep, goats and pigs. Assistance will also cover draught animals and poultry losses.

The government will extend subsidies to help 1,000 farmers procure goats, bullocks and other livestock. Around 5,000 dairy farmers will receive cattle feed, with assistance of 100 kg per animal, subject to a maximum of 500 kg. Two hundred poultry farms suffering more than 70 per cent damage will receive rehabilitation support under the Chief Minister’s Krushi Udyog Yojana.

Fish farmers will be eligible for assistance of up to 75 per cent, at the rate of ₹1,12,500 per hectare. Support will also be provided for damaged boats and fishing nets. Marine and Chilika fishermen will receive assistance of ₹60,000 for damaged boats and ₹15,000 for nets. Financial support of up to ₹1.75 lakh per hectare will be extended for damaged pond embankments, soil erosion and community ponds leased by women’s self-help groups.

Support for businesses, SHGs and artisans

Affected MSMEs, traders and shopkeepers will be eligible for loans of up to ₹12 lakh, with a 25 per cent subsidy capped at ₹3 lakh. The state government will transfer the subsidy directly to banks. Street vendors and owners of temporary stalls or kiosks will receive ₹10,000, while damaged shops and commercial establishments will be eligible for ₹25,000.

Eligible women’s self-help groups affected by the cyclone will receive an additional ₹5,000 as seed money. Weavers and artisans will be provided ₹5,000 each for replacing damaged tools and equipment, along with another ₹5,000 for the loss of materials.

Sericulture farmers will receive input assistance of ₹6,000 per hectare for eri, mulberry and tasar cultivation and ₹7,500 per hectare for muga cultivation. Farmers whose rearing houses have been completely damaged will receive ₹1.75 lakh each.

The Chief Minister also directed the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation to repair all damaged lift irrigation points in affected villages and make them operational before the Rabi season.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary Aravind Padhee and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil attended the review meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda