The Odisha government has announced an extensive compensation package for families, farmers, fishers, livestock owners, traders and small businesses affected by Cyclone Arnab, including cash assistance for damaged homes, crop losses, fishing assets and disrupted livelihoods. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the measures after reviewing relief, reconstruction and damage assessment at a high-level meeting at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office on Sunday evening.
Each affected family will receive 50 kilograms of rice and ₹2,500 in gratuitous relief, according to the announcement reported by The Samaja – Bhubaneswar. Families whose homes have been washed away, completely destroyed or remained submerged for more than two days will also receive ₹2,500 for clothing and ₹2,500 for utensils.
For houses that are completely or severely damaged, the assistance will be ₹1.2 lakh in plain areas and ₹1.3 lakh in hilly areas. Partially damaged pucca houses will qualify for ₹6,500, while partially damaged kutcha houses will receive ₹4,000. Assistance of ₹8,000 has been announced for damaged thatched houses and ₹3,000 for damaged cattle sheds.
Farmers with crop losses of 33% or more will be eligible for input subsidies for up to two hectares. The assistance will be ₹8,500 per hectare for unirrigated areas, ₹17,000 for irrigated areas and ₹22,500 for perennial crops, subject to the stated minimum assistance provisions. Farmers will also receive support for removing sand or silt from fields at ₹18,000 per hectare, with a minimum assistance amount of ₹2,200 per farmer. Short-term kharif loans may be converted into medium-term loans for willing farmers in areas where crop losses meet the 33% threshold.
The package includes 1.2 lakh pulse minikits, 5,000 oilseed kits and 50,000 vegetable seed kits, taking the total number of special minikits to 1.75 lakh. For affected sugarcane areas covering 2,000 hectares, assistance will be provided for space transplanting at ₹27,500 per hectare or ratoon crop management at ₹12,500 per hectare, depending on farmers’ needs. A 75% subsidy on pesticides and bio-pesticides has also been announced for the 2026-27 rabi season.
The government has separately announced assistance for livestock losses. Farmers will receive ₹37,500 for the death of a milch cow or buffalo, ₹4,000 for sheep, goats or pigs, ₹32,000 for large draught animals and ₹20,000 for smaller draught animals. Compensation for poultry will be ₹100 per bird, subject to a maximum of ₹10,000. Support will also be provided to help 1,000 farmers obtain goats or draught animals, while 5,000 dairy farmers will receive cattle feed at 100 kilograms per animal, capped at 500 kilograms.
Fisheries-related assistance will include up to ₹1,12,500 per hectare, covering up to 75% of the eligible loss for affected fish farmers. Assistance of ₹22,500 has been announced for fully or partially damaged boats and ₹15,000 for nets. Marine and Chilika fishers will receive ₹60,000 for damaged boats and ₹15,000 for nets. Support will also cover breached pond embankments, soil erosion and community ponds leased by women’s self-help groups, with assistance of up to ₹1.75 lakh per hectare.
Affected MSMEs, traders and shopkeepers will be eligible for loan support of up to ₹12 lakh, including a 25% subsidy on loans up to ₹3 lakh. Street vendors, temporary stalls and kiosks will receive ₹10,000, while shops and commercial establishments will receive ₹25,000. Eligible women’s self-help groups will receive an additional ₹5,000 in seed money. Weavers and artisans will receive ₹5,000 per person for replacing tools and equipment and another ₹5,000 for damaged materials.
The Chief Minister also directed the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation to repair lift irrigation points in affected villages on a priority basis and restore all such points before the rabi season. Teams deployed for Cyclone Murasu were instructed to remain in their assigned locations, according to the report.
