SKM leaders demand Rs 50,000 cr relief package from Central govt

A delegation of farmer leaders from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), led by All India Kisan Sabha National president Rajan Krish Sagar and General Secretary Krishna Deo Singh, visited the flood-hit areas here. They were joined by leaders of various farmer unions, including Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, Boota Singh Burj Gill, Baldev Singh Nihalgarh, Harpal Singh Cheema and Lakhbir Singh Nijampur.

The team toured the flood-affected regions in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, especially villages along the Ravi river such as Machhiwala and Ghonewala in the Ramdass area, which suffered extensive damage. The leaders observed that despite the destruction, local villagers, along with community groups, were working tirelessly for rehabilitation without waiting for government aid.

They praised the unity and generosity of people across Punjab and neighboring states who provided relief material.

Farmer leaders urged the Centre government to declare the Punjab floods a national disaster and extend substantial relief. They criticised the earlier announcement of a Rs 1,600 crore package as insufficient and instead sought a Rs 50,000 crore package. Their demands included Rs 70,000 per acre for crop loss, Rs 10 lakh compensation for each life lost, fair payment for loss of cattle and poultry and immediate release of Rs 1 lakh to every affected family.

The delegation also visited areas in Dera Baba Nanak, Makora Pattan and the Bhoa constituency, where the Ravi river swept away nearly 25 acres of land, including houses and a mosque. At Madhopur headworks, the leaders blamed poor coordination between the dam authorities and local staff for worsening the disaster and called for a high-level inquiry.