Farmers’ unions call relief package a ‘cruel joke’; demand direct benefit transfer to farmers’ bank accounts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of a ₹1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab has triggered a wave of criticism from the state’s farmers’ unions. During his visit to Gurdaspur on Tuesday, PM Modi unveiled the package to support flood-hit regions, but several farmers have raised concerns about the adequacy, clarity, and distribution of the proposed relief.
Farmer leaders have argued that unless the funds are directly transferred to the affected farmers’ bank accounts, they might not reach the intended beneficiaries. Some also questioned whether the package would be merged with the state government’s compensation scheme or provided as an additional financial aid.
Punjab farmers doubt Centre’s intentions behind relief fund
Several farmer organizations, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Kirti Kisan Union, have expressed deep disappointment over what they called a meagre amount of support from the Centre.
- Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of KMM, said,
“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?”
This lack of clarity on fund allocation has fueled suspicion among farmers that the package might not directly benefit them.
Anger over non-utilisation of ₹12,000 crore disaster relief fund
Farmer unions also slammed the Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for allegedly not utilizing the existing ₹12,000 crore disaster management reserve fund, which the Centre had cited several times.
- According to farmers, this fund could have been used to provide immediate relief to flood-affected people.
- The fact that it remains unspent while a new package has been announced has created mistrust and frustration among the farming community.
Farmers demand direct bank transfers of compensation
Many affected farmers have emphasized that direct benefit transfer (DBT) is the only way to ensure transparent and timely disbursal of funds.
- Sukhjinder Singh Rajan, an Abohar-based farmer, stated,
“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 also highlighted that orchard owners, who contribute significantly to crop diversification, are often left out of compensation policies and should be included in relief measures.
‘Peanuts’ compared to actual losses: Farmers’ unions
The Kirti Kisan Union and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) called the ₹1,600 crore package “just peanuts” compared to the massive losses suffered due to recurring floods.
- Raminder Singh Patiala, general secretary of Kirti Kisan Union, remarked that the package would not even cover a fraction of the damages.
- SKM has demanded ₹50,000 crore for Punjab, arguing that anything less would be grossly inadequate.
These unions also pointed out that the bureaucratic hurdles and conditions attached to disaster relief funds often delay compensation, leaving farmers waiting for months.
No policy for landless labourers, shopkeepers, and orchard owners
Farmer leaders have also raised concerns over the lack of a comprehensive compensation policy that covers not just land-owning farmers but also:
- Landless farm labourers
- Small shopkeepers and traders affected by floods
- Orchard owners and horticulture farmers
- Narain Dutt, a farmer representative, said,
“There’s no clarity for landless and farm labourers as to how they will be compensated. Many shopkeepers also suffered damage. Hence, policy needs to be for one and all.”
Relief package seen as political posturing
Many farmers believe both the Centre and the Punjab state government are using flood relief for political mileage rather than focusing on actual rehabilitation.
- The AAP government’s announcement of ₹20,000 per acre compensation just before the PM’s visit was seen as a political move.
- PM Modi’s ₹1,600 crore relief package was also viewed as a symbolic gesture rather than a real solution to Punjab’s recurring flood woes.
This has created disillusionment among farmers, who say they have been repeatedly neglected despite suffering heavy crop and property losses every monsoon.
Farmers urge for long-term flood mitigation strategy
While the immediate focus is on compensation, farmer unions are also demanding a long-term plan to prevent future flood disasters in Punjab.
They want the government to:
- Strengthen river embankments and drainage infrastructure
- Invest in canal system repair and maintenance
- Improve weather forecasting and disaster response systems
- Ensure transparent insurance claims settlement for crop losses
According to them, relief packages alone cannot solve the problem, and structural flood mitigation efforts are the only sustainable way forward.
Key demands of Punjab farmers from Centre and State
To summarise, the main demands put forth by farmers’ unions include:
- Immediate direct transfer of relief funds into farmers’ bank accounts
- Inclusion of farm labourers, shopkeepers, and orchard owners in compensation policies
- Clarification on whether ₹1,600 crore is separate from or merged with the state’s relief package
- Utilisation of the existing ₹12,000 crore disaster management fund lying with the Punjab government
- Simplification of bureaucratic procedures and removal of riders on disaster relief funds
- Allocation of ₹50,000 crore package as demanded by Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Conclusion: Relief package leaves more questions than answers
PM Modi’s announcement of a ₹1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab has failed to satisfy the state’s farmers, who see it as inadequate, unclear, and politically motivated. With many still recovering from devastating losses, farmers are demanding direct financial support and a transparent, inclusive policy framework to ensure that every affected individual gets timely compensation.
Unless the Centre and state government work together on both immediate relief and long-term flood prevention, Punjab’s farmers fear that they will continue to be left in limbo every monsoon season.
