As the dust settles, it’s time to check if victims the devastating landslides and floods in Mon and beyond have received the promised financial relief package.
A month has passed since a devastating landslide in the Mon district, triggered by incessant rainfall, claimed 11 lives and injured more than a dozen people. Several political leaders have visited the affected areas in the aftermath of the tragedy. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio led the pack, visiting the site just a day after the incident to take stock of the situation on the ground. He also conducted an aerial survey of the worst-affected areas in Tizit and Tuli. Earlier this month, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilisers JP Nadda inspected the affected areas along with Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak and Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal, followed by Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav. Several ministers, legislators, government officials and civil society organisation leaders have also visited the affected areas—not only to assess the damage firsthand but also to convey their solidarity and empathy to those who have lost everything, including loved ones. Such gestures mean a lot during difficult times.
Now, as the dust settles and people return to their busy lives, it is time to ask whether those affected by the natural calamity have received adequate assistance and whether the promises made in the aftermath of the disaster have been fulfilled. To begin with, the chief minister announced an ex-gratia financial relief of INR 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased and INR 74,000 each for those injured. It was later announced that the state government had released INR 70 lakh towards this assistance, as well as immediate relief for families affected by the devastating landslides and flash floods. During his visit, the chief minister also extended INR 10 lakh to civil society groups, volunteers and agencies involved in rescue operations. Beyond government assistance, several societies, churches and organisations have pooled resources to help the victims. The gesture is heart-warming. However, what matters ultimately is how effectively such assistance is put to use. Every penny contributed by the public must be utilised responsibly, and assistance—whether from the government, organisations or individuals—must reach those who need it most. The relief effort should not end in Mon. Several other districts, including Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator, Zunheboto, Mokokchung and Noklak, were also affected by landslides and flash floods, with hundreds of homes damaged. Assistance must reach these areas as well.
The road to recovery will not be easy. Getting back on one’s feet after losing everything—homes, property, livestock and, in many cases, loved ones—is easier said than done. The victims will need sustained assistance to rebuild their lives from scratch. For this, relief and rehabilitation support from the Centre, as assured by Nadda during his recent visit, will be crucial. The concerned authorities must also prioritise the restoration of road connectivity and other essential infrastructure damaged by the disaster. A month after the tragedy, the focus should now shift from immediate relief to sustained rehabilitation and recovery. Visits, assurances and relief packages matter, but their true value will be measured by whether they translate into tangible support for those struggling to rebuild their lives.