On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a visit to flood-stricken Punjab, where he offered a relief package totalling ₹1,600 crore to assist the recovery efforts in the state. This assistance is on top of the 12,000 crore that has been earlier announced to Punjab and the announcement of the aid includes the release of the second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in advance and the extension of the financial support in form of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
In his visit, PM Modi expressed a necessity of multi-dimensional approach to recovery to help people and infrastructure. He committed to the initiative of rebuilding of homes under PM Awas Yojana, repairing of national highways, rebuilding of schools that were damaged and extension of relief under the PMNRF. Special consideration will also be given to the rural economy, mini kits will be distributed to livestock farmers to assist them to regain their livelihood.
The Prime Minister also announced ex-gratia payment of 2 lakh of 50,000 rupees respectively to families who had lost their lives during the floods; and to those who were seriously injured. His visit to Pathankot was characterized by warm reception of Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and senior state officials. He then went further to Kangra in Himachal Pradesh to appraise the situation there and then have a review with the highest administration of Punjab.
The most recent aid package issued by the Centre is the long-term strategy, which is not only focused on immediate relief but on adopting rebuilding and fortifying the state against the future natural calamities. The government expects to accelerate the restoration process and restore normalcy to the lives of thousands of people who lost their lives during the devastating floods by incorporating both infrastructure restoration and social support schemes.
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