Punjab: Farmers demand removal of restrictions on relief

Punjab: Farmers here have urged the state government to relax existing rules that limit compensation for crop damage to a maximum of five acres per farmer. This demand comes at a time when the Punjab government has announced compensation for all farmers affected by floods in the border region. A senior official said, “There are rules established under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) that allow farmers or landowners to be compensated for only up to five acres of land, regardless of their actual landholding or damage.” However, the official added that the issue is under discussion at the government level. Gurbhej Singh, a farmer from Ghonewal village, said he owns 20 acres of land and has leased 25 acres. He claimed that his fields have been submerged and a thick layer of silt has accumulated on them, completely ruining his crops. He said, “The officials conducting the Girdawari (assessment of crop damage) told us that the compensation would be limited to only five acres. If that happens, it won’t cover even a fraction of the financial loss we’ve suffered.” The compensation limit has been a recurring issue. Similar concerns were raised during the 2023 floods, when compensation was limited to five acres, resulting in many large landowners receiving less compensation. Another farmer, Hardeep Singh, recalled, “Even then, citing norms, the flood compensation limit was limited to five acres, which meant the remaining losses were not accounted for.” Ratan Singh Randhawa, a prominent leader of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, insisted that the state government should consider this year’s unprecedented devastation. He said, “The losses are many times greater than in 2023, and this time the government has a chance to provide justice by relaxing these old restrictions.”