Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has announced a major relief package for flood-affected farmers. Nearly 500,000 acres of crops were completely destroyed due to the recent devastating floods. The government has now decided to provide 200,000 quintals of wheat seeds free of charge to these farmers. The Chief Minister stated that this free seed is a small effort by the government to provide relief to farmers, and that the state government stands with them at every level.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “Punjab is currently going through a difficult time due to the natural disaster. 500,000 acres of crops have been damaged due to the floods, and farmers are unable to purchase seeds. Therefore, the government has decided to provide free wheat seeds for 500,000 acres of land. During this period, 200,000 quintals of seeds will be given to farmers free of charge. We are making a small effort to help the state’s farmers get back on their feet and breathe new life into their fields.” Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with the farmers in this difficult time.” The Chief Minister stated that this seed, valued at approximately ₹74 crore, will be provided free of charge to farmers for the upcoming Rabi season. He stated that the state’s hardworking farmers have made a significant contribution to making the country self-sufficient in food grain production, and the government will provide them with all possible assistance in this time of crisis. Expressing regret, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the floods have caused unprecedented damage to Punjab. 2,300 villages in the state have been affected, affecting over 2 million people, and crops standing on 500,000 acres have been destroyed. So far, 56 people have died in this disaster, while 700,000 people have been rendered homeless. Furthermore, the floods have severely damaged 3,200 government schools, 19 colleges, 1,400 hospitals, and clinics. 8,500 kilometers of roads and 2,500 bridges have also collapsed. The total loss has been estimated at around Rs 13,800 crore, but the actual figure could be much higher.
