Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday inaugurated Mission Chardi Kala, a global fundraising initiative aimed at generating support for the rehabilitation of people affected by the devastating floods in Punjab.
In a video address, Mann said the past few days had brought scenes that would remain etched in memory for generations, as the rising waters swept away countless homes, livelihoods, and dreams. He appealed to people across the world to come together in solidarity and contribute to rebuilding the lives of those who had lost everything to the disaster.
destroyed, 56 precious lives were lost, and seven lakh people have become homeless,” Mann said.
The chief minister further explained that 3,200 government schools have been damaged, 19 colleges have been reduced to rubble, 1,400 clinics and hospitals have been ruined, 8,500 kilometers of roads have been destroyed, and 2,500 bridges have collapsed across the state.
“According to initial estimates, the loss is around ₹13,800 crore, and the actual damage may be even greater,” the CM said. He added that the time had now come to move beyond emergency relief and focus on rehabilitation, as farmers must prepare to sow their fields again, children need to return to classrooms, and families have to rebuild their homes.
“This is the reason why the state government has launched Mission Chardi Kala, which means strength even in sorrow, hope even in darkness,” he said, urging people everywhere to contribute through the portal www.rangla.punjab.gov.in.
The chief minister appealed to Punjabis at home and abroad, to citizens of India, to industrialists, artists, charitable trusts, and to all Punjabi brothers and sisters around the world, saying that the state needed their support at this critical time.
Issuing a clarion call for unity, Mann assured that every rupee contributed would be used honestly and transparently, with the sole purpose of rehabilitation and rebuilding.
Alongside the appeal, the chief minister conducted a video conference with all deputy commissioners to review the ongoing flood relief work. He directed the officers to make daily visits to relief camps and affected areas so that people would not face any inconvenience. Mann also briefed them about Mission Chardi Kala, reiterating that every penny collected under the initiative would be directed towards the rehabilitation of flood-affected families.
In a separate development, Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney announced his own support for the mission. On Wednesday, Sahney pledged a contribution of ₹1 crore for Mission Chardi Kala. A press release confirmed that in addition to the financial assistance, he would also provide 50 tractors and 10 JCB machines over the next three months to aid in desilting operations in flood-affected regions of Punjab.
