Gaurav Gogoi writes to PM Modi; urges for Rs 10,000 crore special package for flood-hit Assam

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has questioned the use of the PM CARES Fund, asking why Assam had allegedly received no assistance from it despite facing recurring floods, erosion and other natural disasters. In a social media post, Gogoi cited the PM CARES Fund’s corpus of ₹8,452 crore and questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi “really cares” for the people of Assam. His remarks came amid renewed political debate over the fund’s finances and the scale of expenditure from it.

Gogoi questions fund utilisation

Gogoi said Assam had repeatedly faced devastating floods and erosion that displaced families, destroyed homes and agricultural land and damaged public infrastructure. Against this backdrop, he questioned why resources available with PM CARES had not been used to provide greater assistance to the state.

The Congress leader contrasted the large corpus held by the fund with what he described as Assam receiving “nothing” from it.

His remarks follow the release of the latest audited financial information relating to PM CARES, which showed the fund held a closing balance of more than ₹8,452 crore at the end of the 2024-25 financial year.

A substantial portion of the money remained invested in fixed deposits, while expenditure during the year was comparatively limited. The figures have prompted questions from Opposition leaders about how quickly money collected by the fund is being deployed.

Assam disasters in focus

Gogoi linked the issue specifically to Assam's recurring natural disasters. Flooding and riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries affect large parts of the state each year, often forcing thousands of families to leave their homes.

The Congress leader has recently intensified his criticism of the Centre over erosion in Majuli and other areas of Upper Assam. He has sought greater central intervention, technical assessment of damaged protection projects and permanent measures for vulnerable riverbanks.

In a separate intervention, Gogoi questioned the effectiveness of erosion-control works after sections of protection projects at Bhakat Chapori and Kordoiguri were damaged.

He has argued that recurring expenditure on temporary measures has failed to provide lasting protection to communities living along erosion-prone stretches of the Brahmaputra.

PM CARES back in political spotlight

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund was established in March 2020 to provide assistance during emergencies and distress situations, including public health emergencies and natural or man-made disasters.

The fund received substantial contributions after its creation during the Covid-19 pandemic and financed several pandemic-related initiatives, including medical equipment and healthcare infrastructure.

Gogoi’s latest attack seeks to bring the debate over the fund directly into Assam politics by questioning whether its resources have been adequately used for states repeatedly affected by natural calamities.

The Congress leader's remarks are also likely to sharpen the political debate over central assistance for Assam, where floods and erosion remain among the state's most persistent challenges.

At the heart of Gogoi’s criticism is the contrast he seeks to draw between the substantial resources remaining with PM CARES and the continuing financial and human costs of Assam's annual disasters.