DEF appeals to Centre, state govt for aid

The Democratic Employees Federation (DEF) today sent a memorandum to the Punjab government asking it to address the massive losses caused by floods in Punjab and to provide a concrete solution to the problems of the people affected. On behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, Harpal Singh, ADCP, received the memorandum and assured that it will be forwarded to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Similarly, it was also announced that the Democratic Employees Federation would send all possible assistance to the flood-affected people as soon as possible.

Federation president Jarmanjit Singh, along with other members of the organisation, said that while the Punjab government has failed to prevent the devastation caused by the floods and provide relief to the affected people in time, the Central Government has also not given any financial assistance or relief package to Punjab to deal with the situation.

“The devastation caused by the floods is massive and cannot be called a natural disaster. On the one hand, Punjab is struggling with the serious problem of groundwater, and on the other, the state government has not been able to build the necessary infrastructure to store excess water during the rainy season. Neither the Central government nor the state government has paid any attention to making necessary arrangements to prevent the unexpected floods,” said Jarmanjit Singh. He said that the work of cleaning rivers, drains and dams to prevent floods should be completed every year before the rainy season. But for this, the 8,635 posts of manual labourers, regulation beldars and gauge readers in the Water Resources and Drainage Department that were abolished, should be immediately restored and necessary recruitment made without delay.

The DEF has demanded that Rs 20 lakh be given as compensation per person for deaths in the floods, Rs 50,000 per acre for the destroyed crops of farmers and Rs 25,000 per family for the landless immediately. Similarly, Rs 1 lakh per cattle for buffaloes and cows washed away or that perished in floods and Rs 20,000-Rs 50,000 for all other animals should be given immediately. Suitable compensation should be given to all affected families to compensate for damage to the houses that collapsed in the floods or rains. The dams, rivers and canals of Punjab should be repaired every year.

The DEF leaders said that new methods should be developed to improve the process of releasing water from dams. The Democratic Employees Federation also appealed to the employees and others in Punjab to come forward to help the flood victims.