SGPC panel reserves Rs 20 cr for flood relief

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee on Thursday decided to reserve an initial amount of Rs 20 crore for the assistance of flood-affected people, along with several major measures for different affected sectors.

Addressing mediapersons after the executive committee meeting, its president Harjinder Singh Dhami said apart from reserving an initial amount of Rs 20 crore for flood-affected victims, it would also provide 8 lakh litres of diesel to farmers to help level and prepare fields for cultivation again.

In addition, farmers having less than 10 acres of land would be provided high-quality wheat seed for the upcoming sowing season. Each flood-affected gurdwaras would also receive Ra 50,000 in financial assistance. It would also provide free textbooks to children whose school books were destroyed in the floods, said the SGPC president.

The SGPC further announced that as many as 50 medical vans from Sri Guru Ramdas Medical College would be deployed in affected areas to address post-flood health issues, apart from providing langar and ration supplies as before.

Dhami urged the Punjab Government to waive VAT on diesel for farmers in order to maximise relief benefits. He emphasised that the SGPC’s relief work is being carried out through the Guru’s Golak (religious treasury) and public contributions, urging the sangat (community) to generously support these efforts.

During the meeting, the association of former SGPC employees presented a cheque for Rs 1.01 lakh towards flood relief. The committee also paid homage to those who lost their lives in the floods as well as Baba Baljinder Singh of Rara Sahib, who recently passed away.

The SGPC has already sent relief material worth over Rs 77 lakh.