In a healing touch to the flood affected people, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday launched the process of disbursement of compensation to more than 30,000 families whose houses were damaged during the recent floods.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the unprecedented floods had caused immense hardship to the people of Punjab and the pain suffered by affected families was beyond words. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during his visits to the flood-hit areas, he had personally witnessed the suffering of the people. He said that the state government had assured the flood victims that they were firmly standing with every affected family in this hour of distress.
The Chief Minister also appreciated the tireless efforts of social and religious organizations and volunteers from Punjab and other states for their selfless service to humanity during the calamity. Lauding the indomitable spirit of Punjabis, he said that the state had once again demonstrated its ability to rise like a phoenix in case of adversity. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it was the bounden duty of any sensitive government to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people during difficult times and that his government would leave no stone unturned to support the flood-affected households.
The Chief Minister said the state government had already begun payment of enhanced compensation at the rate of Rs 20,000 per acre for crop loss suffered by farmers during the floods adding that it is the highest compensation given by any government in the country. He further said that the government was also rolling out a comprehensive rehabilitation package for house damage, under which Rs 1.20 lakh per fully damaged house is being provided to affected families. Bhagwant Singh Mann informed that out of nearly 30,000 houses reported damaged across Punjab during the floods, 8,056 houses pertain to Gurdaspur district alone.
The Chief Minister said that compensation amounting to Rs 377 crore is being distributed today to affected families, ensuring that they can rebuild their homes with dignity. He further explained that the state government has already released Rs 70,000 as the first instalment to each eligible household for house reconstruction, while the remaining amount is being disbursed in two additional installments so that work can progress smoothly. To further support reconstruction, Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that MGNREGA had been credited with the task of rebuilding the damaged houses, providing 90 days of wage employment to beneficiaries for construction of their own homes.
The Chief Minister clarified that these 90 days of employment are in addition to the grant of Rs 1.20 lakh for each fully damaged house, thereby ensuring both financial assistance and livelihood support for affected families. He said that despite the widespread damage caused by the floods, Punjab had contributed nearly 150 lakh tonnes of paddy to the national pool, once again fulfilling its responsibility as the food bowl of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann pointed out that the state had suffered losses to the tune of around Rs 13,500 crore due to the floods and reiterated his strong demand that the Union government should immediately release the Rs 1,600 crore relief package that had been publicly announced earlier.
The Chief Minister said that withholding of the promised assistance amounted to yet another “jumla” with the people and slammed the government for step-motherly treatment being meted out to Punjab. He said that the anti-Punjab stance of the centre was reflective of desperate attempts being made by them to change the status of Chandigarh and Panjab University. Listing key pro-people decisions of his government, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state had successfully closed more than 17 toll plazas, resulting in a saving of nearly Rs 65 lakh per day for commuters across Punjab.
The Chief Minister added that canal water had reached many fields at the tail end of the state for the first time in around four decades. Likewise, he said that more than 58,000 government jobs had been provided to youth purely on merit without any corruption. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that farmers of the state are now receiving regular uninterrupted power supply for agricultural operations due to strenuous efforts of the state.
The Chief Minister said that his government firmly believes that education is the real panacea for all social and economic ills due to which his government had laid thrust on upgrading the school infrastructure. He mentioned that students from Punjab are increasingly clearing prestigious examinations such as IIT and JEE, reflecting the renewed focus on quality education in government institutions. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that only education, employment and empowerment could secure the future of the younger generation.
The Chief Minister underlined that strict action had been taken against drug peddlers, who are now facing the full force of the law adding that the state government has broken the backbone of drugs. He said the government was committed to freeing Punjab from the scourge of drugs and to ensuring that the youth were channelized towards education, sports and constructive activities. Announcing a major boost to sports infrastructure, Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that 23 model sports grounds would be developed specifically in the Dera Baba Nanak area, while a total of 194 modern sports grounds would be established across Gurdaspur district.
The Chief Minister said these state-of-the-art playgrounds would provide world-class facilities to budding sportspersons and help nurture sports culture at the grassroots level. In a significant step towards women’s empowerment and access to higher education, he announced the setting up of a new Government College for Girls at Dera Baba Nanak. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that classes in the college would commence from the coming academic session and that all necessary infrastructure and faculty arrangements would be put in place well in time.
The Chief Minister said that the new institution would enable girls from Dera Baba Nanak and nearby areas to pursue higher studies close to home in a safe and conducive environment. He also announced that the existing grain market (mandi) and the power grid located in densely populated parts of the town would be shifted to more suitable locations. Inviting people to be part of a historic spiritual occasion, Bhagwant Singh Mann urged devotees to visit Anandpur Sahib in large numbers during the ongoing commemorations of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.
The Chief Minister said that, in a landmark decision, Amritsar (walled city around Sri Harmandir Sahib), Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo had been designated as “holy cities”, with special measures to preserve their sanctity and heritage. He said that senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party did not participate in the martyrdom day events at Anandpur Sahib adding that this has exposed their insensitivity towards Punjab’s rich spiritual and martyrdom legacy. Bhagwant Singh Mann also launched a sharp attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal, accusing its leadership of running politics on a narrow family-centric agenda and reminding that they had even fielded a relative of an alleged gangster during the Tarn Taran by-election.
The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to clean and transparent politics, public welfare and rule of law adding that people of Punjab were fully aware of the old political tactics of those who had looted and misled the state in the past. However, he said that the people of the state are now standing firmly with policies that ensure development, justice and dignity for every section of society. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Akali Dal’s agenda revolves only around four key points – “Mera Putt (Son), Mera Bhatija (Nephew), Mera Salla, Mera Jijja (Brother‑in‑laws)” and that they have no real programme for the public.
The Chief Minister said that the nephew has now joined another party, while the brother‑in‑law is behind bars for their sins. He added that the party even gave a ticket to a relative of a gangster in the Tarn Taran bypoll, who was badly rejected by the wise people of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the menace of drugs had spread its wings during the misrule of the Akalis and BJP.
On this occasion Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and other dignitaries were present.
