From 125 Medical Camps to 25 Veterinary Teams – SAD Unveils Multi-Layered Support for Flood Victims

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation program for flood-affected farmers in Punjab. The package includes immediate relief supplies, financial compensation, and long-term agricultural support measures.

After an emergency meeting with senior party leaders and district presidents, Badal unveiled the plan, which covers multiple aspects of recovery. He revealed that 500 trucks of maize silage and 500 trucks of compressed fodder have been booked for rural distribution. Additionally, the party has purchased 500 fogging machines to prevent the outbreak of malaria and other diseases in flood-hit regions.

Focusing on the upcoming wheat season, Badal announced that certified wheat seeds would be distributed for one lakh acres of farmland. Alongside this, 30,000 quintals of ration will be supplied to flood-affected families. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also agreed to conduct 125 medical camps in collaboration with Guru Ramdas Hospital, Amritsar, while 25 veterinary teams will be deployed for livestock health.

Badal demanded compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for farmers and special relief for landless farm laborers. He also urged the Centre and Punjab government to waive off farm loans, arguing that a six-month moratorium would not be enough since recovery from losses would take at least two to three years. He further demanded that the ex-gratia for loss of life be increased from ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Badal requested a ₹20,000 crore flood relief and rehabilitation package for Punjab, along with the formation of a special monitoring committee to ensure fair distribution of funds. He criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to utilize the ₹13,000 crore disaster management fund.

Badal also expressed disappointment with the industrial sector, stating that while Punjabis had helped during natural disasters in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Nepal, the people of Punjab were left alone in their time of crisis.