R S Pura: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Visits Flood-Hit Farms, Assures Farmers of Relief
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday visited flood-affected farms in the Basmati-rich R S Pura border area of Jammu and Kashmir. He assured farmers that, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blessings, the central and state governments would take all necessary steps to restore their livelihoods and help them recover from the disaster.
Thousands of hectares in Jammu, particularly in the R S Pura region, were devastated by floods triggered by heavy rains at the end of August.
Speaking to farmers in Gram Badyal Brahmin, Chouhan said, “I have come to tell you that the central government, together with the state government and with the blessings of the prime minister, will pull the farmers out of this disaster. Your pain is our pain, your suffering is our suffering.”
Accompanied by a high-level team from his ministry, Chouhan inspected crops and fields across the border belt. “Do not shed tears. Whenever there were tears in your eyes, we too were pained. We will work hard together again. Teams from the central government are here to support you,” he added.
Emphasizing his personal commitment, Chouhan said, “I have not come here just as a minister, but as a humble servant. When a farmer’s crop is destroyed, it is not only the crop that is lost but also the future of the farmer and his children. We will pull you out of this disaster.”
Inspecting fields flattened by sand deposits, he noted, “Teams from the Centre and the state have conducted surveys to assess losses. Fields once full of vegetables, Basmati, and maize have been buried under layers of sand.”
Chouhan stressed the prime minister’s concern for farmers and recalled visits by other senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah. He assured that once assessment reports are received, the central government would leave no stone unturned in providing relief.
He highlighted that some responsibilities fall on the state government and stressed that disaster relief should be prioritized over politics. “The first task is to take farmers out of this trouble and restore their normal lives,” he said.
Chouhan also suggested that sand deposited in farmers’ fields should be given to the landowners, enabling them to sell or remove it to make the land cultivable again. He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has provisions to remove sand and that the Centre would coordinate with the state for speedy implementation.
Acknowledging immediate relief already provided, Chouhan noted that the chief minister had released Rs 10 crore and mentioned additional state schemes and funds worth Rs 2,499 crore that could be utilized for rehabilitation.
“I salute the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Everyone contributed — some brought food, some blankets, and others provided essential help,” he said.
During the visit, Chouhan repeatedly urged farmers not to lose hope and reaffirmed that both the central and state governments were working together to address the damage to crops and farmland caused by the recent floods and sand deposition.
