Demand ₹20 lakh for each death, ₹1 lakh per cattle head; seek aid for labourers, houses, and higher crop relief
CHANDIGARH: Farmer unions and Opposition parties on Monday rejected the flood-compensation package announced by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, calling it “inadequate” and demanding a substantial revision for bereaved families, cultivators, and farm labourers.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, president of the Kisan Mazdoor Union, said the ₹4 lakh ex gratia announced for families of the deceased was “a cruel joke.” He sought at least ₹20 lakh per deceased person, noting that the state has previously granted higher amounts—“the CM had given ₹10 lakh to victims of the hooch tragedy, ” he said. Pandher also dismissed the ₹20, 000 per acre compensation for crop damage as too little and demanded ₹70 lakh per acre.
Pandher added that the announcement overlooks farm labourers, who “have suffered huge losses and face an uncertain future.” He urged the government to announce a dedicated relief package for labourers and to provide ₹1 lakh per cattle head lost in the deluge, saying thousands of animals were washed away.
Harinder Singh Lakhowal of BKU (Lakhowal) echoed the demand for ₹20 lakh compensation per death and pressed for a separate allocation to rebuild houses damaged or destroyed by the floods. “Hundreds of homes have collapsed. Rehabilitation of farmers and labourers is a major task, and the government must not shirk its responsibility, ” he said.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) also backed ₹20 lakh for bereaved families and urged the state to pay ₹50, 000 per acre to the actual cultivators. SAD leaders announced a party-led support plan for flood-hit villages that includes fodder supply for livestock and fogging machines to curb disease.
While the government has outlined relief measures, including crop compensation and ex gratia for fatalities, unions and Opposition parties insist the package fails to reflect the scale of loss to lives, livestock, homes, and livelihoods. They urged the Chief Minister to immediately convene talks and issue a revised, comprehensive rehabilitation plan covering farmers, labourers, and housing reconstruction.
Ujagar Singh Ugrahan president of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) demanded to announce Punjab floods a national calamity and demanded full compensation of loss by center government. He sought food security for flood victims for at least six months and said that farmers have been devastated. He said that his organization would supply seed for the next crop.