Baupur farmer donates land to five flood-hit families

Even as relief has reached the flood-affected Sultanpur Lodhi area, a local farmer from Baupur village, Paramjit Singh, continues to stand out for his humanitarian gesture. Opening his heart to those who lost everything, he has donated 10 marla land each to five families from the adjoining Rampur Gaura village, whose houses and fields were completely washed away in the recent floods.

With the Beas river changing its course, it now flows through the land where these families once lived. Three of them are farm labourers, while the remaining two are farmers Bakhtaur Singh and Pargat Singh.

“One of the labourers, Pargat Singh, has three daughters. Since the day he lost his house, his family has been living with others. Though he received some financial aid, it wasn’t enough to build a new home. Now that I’ve given him 10 marla land from my fields, NGOs can help him construct a shelter. I’ll ensure he has at least one room ready before winter sets in,” Paramjit said.

Paramjit and his brother Gurmeet Singh, who is also the village sarpanch, jointly own 30 acres of farmland in Baupur. They have spared a portion of it to rehabilitate the five homeless families. “Our priority is to start construction of their houses. Once that’s done, we’ll have the land legally transferred in their names in the revenue records,” they shared.

The brothers mentioned that one of the affected families is headed by a widow, who lost her home and livelihood during the floods. “The entire village was worried about her. Once she gets a shelter for herself, her children and her dairy animals, she will be able to stand on her own feet again,” said Paramjit, adding that each family was given 10 marla so they could also house their cattle.

During the floods, Paramjit had been operating a motorboat for nearly a month, rescuing stranded families from marooned villages and ferrying them to safety. His own house, built on a 12-foot-high raised platform, remained safe and served as a storage place for the belongings of displaced families until the waters receded.

“In helping these families, my brother and I are only following the teachings of our late father,” Paramjit said. “He was the numberdar of our village and passed away three years ago. Everyone remembers him for his kindness and helpful nature. The elevated house we live in today was built under his supervision. Because of his foresight and values, we were safe and are now able to help others.”

Paramjit’s act of generosity has earned him deep respect in the community, making him a shining example of compassion and solidarity in the face of disaster.