After a series of follow-up acts from the ruling BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik followed by a letter written by Governor SC Jamir, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has announced an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to cyclone and flood-hit Odisha. A similar amount has been given to Andhra Pradesh too.

The PM’s move came after a delegation led by Andhra Pradesh CM met him to submit a memorandum regarding the losses suffered by Cyclone Phailin and subsequent incessant rains in the state.

The PM has also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in Cyclone and floods. The injured will get Rs 50,000 each. The money will be given from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

The quantum of final assistance will be decided on the basis of reports given by an Inter-Ministerial team. Earlier, Odisha Governor SC Jamir had written a letter to the PM yesterday, seeking Rs 4242.41 crore assistance in the first phase and Rs 1590.09 crore in the second phase so that the state government expedites the relief, rehabilitation and restoration work.