Punjab Government Releases INR 377 Crore to Help Over 30,000 Flood-Hit Families

In addition to relief, the government has also announced measures for longer-term development.File Photo.

The CM Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has begun disbursing INR 377 crore in compensation to more than 30,000 families whose homes were damaged during the recent floods. The launch of this scheme took place at Dera Baba Nanak, where the state’s Chief Minister addressed affected families and highlighted efforts to help them rebuild their lives with dignity.

Under this rehabilitation package, each household whose home was fully damaged will receive INR 1.20 lakh. Families have already started receiving an initial instalment of INR 70,000, with the remainder scheduled to come in two further instalments. This is a move focused on ensuring smooth reconstruction instead of one-time cash distribution.

To further support the recovery process, the state is going to offer 90 days of wage employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to enable affected families to physically rebuild their homes while earning an income.

The floods had caused heavy damage across Punjab. Out of nearly 30,000 houses reported damaged, more than 8,000 were in just one district – Gurdaspur. In addition to housing losses, farmland and crops were devastated; the government has provided crop-loss compensation at INR 20,000 per acre, a rate claimed to be the highest offered by any state in India.

The Chief Minister addressed flood-affected families and acknowledged the massive challenges caused by the floods. He described it as a “once-in-decades disaster” and highlighted the government’s commitment to support every affected family “in this hour of distress.

In addition to relief, the government has also announced measures for longer-term development: new infrastructure projects such as model sports grounds in impacted areas and the establishment of a government girls’ college in Dera Baba Nanak. These initiatives signal a push to restore not just housing but community and educational facilities.

For flood-hit Punjab, this INR 377 crore disbursement, along with financial aid, brings a sense of assurance that the state stands with them in rebuilding lives and livelihoods. As reconstruction proceeds, these combined relief and support measures could help communities recover from hardships with dignity and restore both roofs over heads and hope in hearts.