Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a ₹1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab during his visit to Gurdaspur on Tuesday has sparked sharp reactions from farmers, who have questioned its adequacy and purpose. Farmers’ unions, which have expressed apprehensions about the funds benefiting the farmers, have sought clarity on the fund disbursal.
“A day before the PM’s visit, the AAP government announced ₹20,000 per acre for affected farmers, only to seek political mileage, but nothing for farm labourers. Now the PM talks of ₹1,600 crore. But is it for agriculture, infrastructure, or housing? Will it be over and above the state’s package, or merged into it?” asked Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM).
They also questioned the Punjab government led by the Aam Aadmi Party for not spending the ₹12,000 crore disaster management reserve fund — repeatedly cited by the Centre — for flood-hit Punjabis. Some farmers’ unions have demanded that the Central Government directly transfer the money into the accounts of farmers.
“Where is the ₹12,000 crore disaster management fund that the PM claims is with Punjab? Why is the state not spending it?” asked Pandher, who said the announcement only deepened confusion. “I have been touring flood-affected areas, and by and large, it is the people themselves who are helping,” he added.
He stressed that farmers had sought ₹70,000 per acre as compensation, whereas dividing the Central package over nearly five lakh acres would “work out to less than ₹10,000 per acre — if it even reaches us.”
Abohar-based farmer Sukhjinder Singh Rajan demanded direct benefit transfer of the funds. “Whatever relief the Centre wants to give, it must go directly into farmers’ bank accounts. Otherwise, whether it is ₹1,600 crore or ₹60 crore, it makes no difference,” he said. He pointed out that there is no policy to compensate the orchard owners by any government; they need to think about them as well, as they contribute to diversification.
Raminder Singh Patiala, general secretary of Kirti Kisan Union, termed the announcement “just peanuts”.
