₹498.80 Crore Relief for 5.18 Lakh Farmers Affected by Cyclone Michaung in 18 Districts, Including Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri

Hon’ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Issues Relief Orders

Chennai – In response to the devastating impact of Cyclone Michaung, which caused unprecedented heavy rainfall in November and December 2024, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has approved a relief package of ₹498.80 crore to support 5,18,783 affected farmers across 18 districts.

The cyclone led to severe disruptions in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Kallakurichi, and several other districts, damaging homes, infrastructure, crops, and essential services. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Tamil Nadu government declared it a severe natural disaster, a designation later approved by the Central government.

The Chief Minister personally visited the affected districts, conducted inspections, and held discussions with Ministers, MPs, MLAs, district collectors, and senior government officials to ensure immediate relief measures were implemented. Due to swift disaster response efforts, normalcy was restored in the cyclone-hit areas.

Direct Relief for Affected Farmers

Understanding the hardships faced by farmers, the Chief Minister has approved compensation per hectare for different types of crops:

• ₹8,500 per hectare for dryland crops
• ₹17,000 per hectare for irrigated and short-term crops
• ₹22,500 per hectare for long-term crops

Following a comprehensive crop damage assessment, relief funds have been sanctioned for 3.23 lakh hectares of affected farmland in 18 districts, including Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Ranipet, and others. The total relief amount of ₹498.80 crore will be directly credited to farmers’ bank accounts within the next few days.

Additional Relief Measures

In addition to direct support for farmers, the Tamil Nadu government has taken the following measures:

• ₹5 lakh compensation for families of those who lost their lives in the cyclone (ordered on December 3, 2024)
• ₹80 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund for immediate repair of damaged infrastructure
• 24/7 free medical services for affected residents
• Ongoing efforts to enhance relief and rehabilitation measures

This initiative highlights the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to safeguarding the livelihoods of its citizens and ensuring a swift recovery from the impact of Cyclone Michaung.