Mamata announces Rs 5 lakh aid, homeguard jobs for flood victims kin

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia compensation and a Special Homeguard job for a kin of each flood victim, ahead of her two-day visit to North Bengal to oversee relief operations.

In a post on X, CM Banerjee said she and her Chief Secretary would personally visit flood-affected areas, while the Director General of Police had already reached the region. "Ministers and public representatives have been mobilised in the worst-hit parts of North Bengal," she added.

"While death cannot be compensated, we shall give Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased, and a Special Homeguard's job to a kin in each family as a special gesture," she wrote. The Chief Minister also highlighted ongoing rescue operations, the establishment of community kitchens, and evacuation of stranded tourists. Special buses, including Volvos and long-distance transport, were mobilised to ensure safe movement of people.

Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said that 500 tourists had already been rescued using 45 buses, and arrangements were in place for accommodation in Siliguri.

At least 24 people lost their lives in Darjeeling district due to incessant rains over the weekend.The Chief Minister also criticised the Central Government for alleged lapses in dredging and desilting of the Ganga-Hugli river, claiming that mismanagement of dams and barrages worsened flooding. She added that the state’s own irrigation and check dam systems helped mitigate the damage in several areas.

The ex-gratia Rs 5 lakh and job announcement, coming ahead of the upcoming elections expected by March 2026, is both a humanitarian relief measure and a politically significant gesture. While a Rs 5 lakh compensation provides immediate support to affected families, a Special Homeguard job ensures a longer-term economic benefit.