Doaba, September 8: The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Doaba announced that it will mobilize 100 tractors from each district of Punjab to assist farmers in clearing fields covered with sand and silt after devastating floods. The move, union leaders said, comes as both the state and central governments have failed to provide meaningful relief.
BKU Doaba state president Manjit Singh Rai made the declaration during a meeting held at Gurdwara Sukhchainana Sahib in Phagwara. He said the plight of flood-affected farmers was the union’s primary concern. “Over 3 lakh acres of crops have been destroyed, thousands of houses submerged, and nearly 1,200 to 1,300 villages hit by floods,” Rai noted. “The role of the state and central governments in extending help to farmers has been negligible.”
The union announced that on September 12, it will stage demonstrations at Deputy Commissioner offices across all districts of Punjab. Protesters will also submit memorandums urging officials to ensure immediate aid reaches affected farming communities.
According to Rai, the BKU has resolved to provide practical support by sending tractors to clear damaged fields once floodwaters recede. “Our volunteers will not only help in removing soil but will also extend assistance with seeds and fertilizers,” he said, while also urging the government to address shortages of DAP fertilizer in the state.
The union also pressed for the release of pending sugarcane dues from both cooperative and private mills, saying farmers need urgent financial relief at a time when their earnings have been crippled by the floods.
While criticizing the government, Rai expressed appreciation for those who stepped forward to support distressed farmers. “Youngsters, communities, the artist fraternity including Punjabi and Hindi film actors and singers, and especially our NRI brothers have stood with farmers. Millions of dollars have been collected through such help,” he said. “Our brothers from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Muslim community also extended solidarity. We thank them and ask governments to follow their example.”
The BKU Doaba underlined that while civil society has shown overwhelming generosity, government response has fallen short. Rai stressed that continued neglect will push already struggling farmers deeper into debt and despair.
