Chhatrapur: In a gesture of compassion and solidarity with flood-hit families, the Ganjam district administration celebrated Diwali with affected villagers and distributed special festive kits to bring cheer to households still recovering from the devastation caused by floods.
Administrative officials visited several flood-affected villages on the occasion of Diwali, sharing the festive spirit with distressed families and distributing kits containing earthen lamps, cotton wicks, sweets, lungis, sarees and other essentials.
At Baranga village under Badamadhapur panchayat in Chhatrapur block, MLA Krushnachandra Nayak, Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, Zilla Parishad Chief Development Officer Samir Kumar Jena, Additional Collector Debadatta Panda, Chhatrapur BDO Sambit Sangramajit Sahu and Block Chairperson S. Sharada Reddy, among others, participated in the programme.
The dignitaries offered prayers and lit lamps at the village Thakurani temple before visiting the residence of Kishore Maharana to hand over a festive kit to his family. Similar kits were distributed among other flood-affected households. The MLA, Collector and other officials also joined village children in bursting firecrackers, adding to the festive celebrations.
The outreach programme was also organised in Handighar village under Purushottampur block, where Chhatrapur Sub-Collector Shibasish Baral, Purushottampur Tahasildar Binod Kumar Behera and local representatives distributed Diwali kits among affected families. The Collector separately visited Nabaratnapur village in Aska block and handed over festive kits to flood victims.
In another gesture of support, all government employees in Ganjam district have contributed one day’s salary towards relief assistance for flood-affected people following an appeal by the Collector.
The initiative sought to ensure that families grappling with flood-related losses could also share in the joy of Diwali. By celebrating alongside the affected communities, the district administration reinforced the message of solidarity, compassion and collective responsibility during the festival of lights.
