Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has set a new benchmark in disaster relief by disbursing ₹602 crore in compensation to over 4 lakh flood-affected households in a record time of just 15 days. The devastating floods that struck Vijayawada and surrounding areas in September 2024 left many regions inaccessible until September 10th, delaying the start of compensation enumeration.
However, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the state government quickly deployed a tech-driven solution to expedite the process. A handheld device equipped with a front-end app and a back-end database was given to 1,600 teams who fanned out across the affected areas. The teams completed the enumeration in just three working days, using AADHAAR data to link beneficiaries to validated bank accounts.
On September 22nd, a list of proposed beneficiaries was published for review and grievance registration. By September 24th, ₹602 crore in funds had been mobilized and integrated with an online UPI payment gateway. This allowed for instant payments to 4 lakh households. The compensation disbursed exceeded the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) norms, highlighting the government’s commitment to providing adequate relief.
Special Chief Secretary (Revenue) RP Sisodia praised the government’s swift action, stating, “Under the leadership of CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu, we are proud to have achieved this unprecedented speed in disbursing compensation. This effort can serve as a model for future disaster management initiatives.”
In stark contrast, the previous government’s compensation process for the Michuang cyclone in December 2023 took over 5.5 months, underscoring the efficiency of the current administration.
