Gujarat Govt announces Relief Package for Flood-Hit Surat Traders

Surat: The Gujarat government has announced a special relief package for traders and small business owners who suffered losses during the flooding that hit Surat following heavy rainfall on July 6. The package includes financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh, along with subsidised loans of up to Rs 30 lakh to help affected businesses resume operations.

The flooding left several parts of Surat waterlogged, damaging shops, commercial establishments, and goods worth lakhs of rupees. Many traders incurred heavy losses after floodwaters entered their premises.

According to the state government’s announcement, traders and small business owners who do not have insurance coverage will be eligible for financial assistance under the relief package.

The government has also announced Rs 7,500 in assistance for lorry and auto-rickshaw drivers whose livelihoods were affected by the floods.

Owners of cabins measuring up to 40 sq ft will receive Rs 25,000, while those with cabins larger than 40 sq ft will be eligible for Rs 50,000. Traders operating from permanent shops will receive assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh. The benefit will be available to eligible traders who have filed GST returns during the past three months.

To help businesses restart operations, the government has also introduced a loan assistance scheme under which it will bear 7% of the loan interest for three years.

Under the scheme, traders with an annual GST turnover of up to Rs 7 lakh will be eligible for loans of up to Rs 20 lakh, along with interest assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh. Those with a turnover of up to Rs 7.5 lakh can avail themselves of loans of up to Rs 25 lakh with interest support of up to Rs 8 lakh, while traders with a turnover above Rs 7.5 lakh will be eligible for loans of up to Rs 30 lakh and interest assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh.

Meanwhile, the state government said relief measures for flood-affected families are continuing across Surat. Cash assistance and household relief kits have been distributed to affected residents, while door-to-door health check-ups, medical camps, and intensive sanitation drives have been carried out to restore normalcy.

More than 9,000 sanitation workers have been deployed across the city over the past week to clean flood-affected areas.

According to the government, over 19,000 people have so far received cash assistance and household relief. The aid has also been extended to residents living on upper floors who, despite not having floodwater enter their homes, suffered a loss of income due to disruption of work caused by the floods. DeshGujarat