Chandigarh, September 19: More than 1,000 donors contributed within the first 24 hours of Punjab’s Mission Chardi Kala, showing strong public and diaspora support for the state government’s new fund for flood relief and reconstruction.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann thanked the first set of contributors, saying their swift response showed both trust in the government’s initiative and solidarity with those hit by the disaster.
“Your contribution to Mission Chardi Kala will play a crucial role in the reconstruction of Punjab, which has been hit hard by the floods,” he noted.
Among the early donors was Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who pledged ₹1 crore. In addition, 50 tractors and 10 JCB machines were committed for relief and rebuilding efforts. Officials said the scale of contributions so soon after the launch was a clear sign that the campaign had struck a chord with Punjabis at home and abroad.
All donations are being deposited into the Rangla Punjab Vikas Fund, managed by the Rangla Punjab Society, designed to respond to crises through voluntary contributions, without government budgetary support. To ensure transparency, a monitoring committee headed by the Chief Secretary, along with senior officials from finance and planning, will oversee the process. Details of donations will be regularly uploaded to the society’s website.
The government said that non-resident Indian donations will not be subject to FCRA clearance, while corporate contributions will qualify as CSR expenses. “Every rupee will be accounted for, and no money will be wasted,” officials assured.
Mann urged Punjabis worldwide to continue the momentum. “Through this society, we are sending a message of unity and transparency in the face of crisis,” he added, noting that the mission seeks not just immediate relief but also long-term rehabilitation and development.
