GUWAHATI: Children are breaking their piggy banks, companies are loosening their CSR purse strings and celebrities like singer-businesswoman Ananya Birla, actor Randeep Hooda and Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey are getting their hands dirty working in the field as a steady stream of humanitarian assistance flows into flood-ravaged Assam, supplementing the state govt’s effort to reach out to families across the worst-affected districts.Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani has contributed Rs 21 crore for flood relief in upper Assam, Adani Group has announced a Rs 11-crore package and JSW Group has donated Rs 5 crore to the campaign.Till July 31, the CM’s Relief Fund received another Rs 16-odd crore from individuals, banks, PSUs, temple bodies and namghars (Vaishnavite prayer halls).Various organisations, local businesses and volunteers have also supplied food, drinking water, medicines and clothes, besides helping families clear silt and mud from their homes.CM Himanta Sarma said the JSW donation “came without prior announcement” and was “discovered” only during a review of the relief fund’s bank statements.He mentioned JSW Steel’s chairperson Sajjan Jindal’s connection to Assam through his mother Savitri Jindal, who hails from the state.Over 62,000 people affected by flooding have so far received Rs 15,000 each as an interim grant from state govt.Another Rs 10,000 each will be released to affected families in Sivasagar and Charaideo over the next few days.“Our effort is to place immediate liquidity in the hands of families so they can begin rebuilding without delay, while final compensation is determined through a comprehensive assessment,” the CM wrote on X.Businessman and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal announced a Rs 100-crore Ajmal Foundation programme to build 10,000 low-cost houses and 10,000 toilets and distribute mekhela sadors (traditional Assamese attire) to 10 lakh flood-affected women.Actor Randeep joined a two-day Global Sikhs relief drive in Sivasagar over the weekend, distributing ration kits and serving meals at a community langar at Sivasagar railway station, where displaced families had taken shelter.Global Sikhs has been supplying cooked meals, ration kits and drinking water across several affected districts.Entrepreneur Ananya, daughter of Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, led relief operations in Jorhat through her foundation, distributing food, drinking water and other essential supplies.Pictures of kids donating their piggy-bank savings have been circulating online.“The collective spirit of Assam is in full display. These are not just piggy banks,” CM Sarma said.
