AAP CM Bhagwant Mann creates history with swift and transparent crop damage assessment and compensation distribution
History Creating Moment
AAP Punjab government created history by starting to distribute compensation within 20 days of destruction of crops by the recent spell of unseasonal rains and thunderstorms. This included carrying out special girdawari (damage assessment of crops) and transferring the compensation.
“Earlier, the governments of other parties used to take months to complete the process. The previous government did not even provide compensation for the damage caused due to the standing rain water in the Balluana area in 2020 and the same has now been distributed,” the CM said.
It is common for past governments of other political parties to issue compensation cheques to farmers for Rs 50, this was equivalent to rubbing salt on the wounds of the victims. This time the compensation provided is significant and will help farmers rebuild their lives and livelihoods after the devastation.
Increase in compensation – state takes the biggest onus
On April 1, 2023 the Punjab Cabinet announced a 25% increase in compensation for crop loss due to untimely rains. This increase is applicable from 1st March 2023.
| Loss Percentage | State Share | Centre Share | Total Amount | Previous Amount |
| 75 to 100 % | Rs 9,600 | Rs 5400 | Rs 15,000 | Rs 12,000 |
| 33 – 75 % | Rs 2,750 | Rs 4000 | Rs 6750 | Rs 5,400 |
| 20 – 33 % | Rs 2,000 | None | Rs 2,000 | Rs 2,000 |
| 0 – 20% | Rs 2,000 | None | Rs 2,000 | None |
NOTE : All compensation amounts in Rs per acre
Other measures announced by AAP Punjab government include –
- A six-month moratorium on loans taken by farmers from cooperative banks.
- Compensation to farm labourers for the loss of income.
Extent of Loss
On April 14th 2023, the AAP Punjab government announced that it has estimated about 13.46 lakh hectares (lh) of the total 34.89 lh under wheat has suffered losses due to lodging (bending or falling) of the crop following the unseasonal rain and hailstorm, which is around 40% of the total wheat crop
| Percentage of loss | Land Area | Total Compensation | State’s Share |
| 20%-32% | 7,13,685 hectares | Rs 352 crore | Rs 352 crore |
| 33%-75% | 5,85,634 hectares | Rs 977 crore | Rs 398 crore |
| 76%-100% | 46,809 hectares | Rs 173.42 crore | Rs 110.99 crore |
| Total | 13.45 lh | 1,502.42 | Rs 860.99 crore |
Centre’s share in this compensation is Rs 641.43 crore which is yet to be paid to the farmers.
Compensation Distributed
On April 13th 2023, at Abohar in Fazilka District CM Mann distributed ₹ 6 crore to 362 Fazilka villages. This is approximately half of the the total Rs 12.94 crore of compensation due to the farmers of the district. This amount was deposited directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. The process to disburse compensation to rain-hit farmers started with the state government distributing Rs 40 crore in a day.
At the event, CM Bhagwant Mann presented symbolic cheques of Rs 1.2 lakh each to six families whose houses were damaged due to a tornado in the border village Bakayanwala. Beneficiaries and farmers thanked the AAP government for disbursing the aid in record time.
“The Fazilka district administration has reconstructed our houses destroyed in the tornado. Today, we have received the compensation amount too,” Vinod Kumar of Fazilka’s Bakainwala village said after receiving a cheque of ₹ 1,20,000 from the CM.
Village sarpanch Harjinder Singh said the compensation has been credited into the bank accounts of farmers without any hassle. Another beneficiary Surjit Kaur, who was handed over a cheque of Rs 1.2 lakh after her house was damaged, said the lists of affected farmers were put up at common places after the girdawari to ensure transparency in the disbursal process.
CM Bhagwant Mann giving away a compensation cheque to a beneficiary in Abohar.
