“Sukhbir Badal Vows Concrete Embankments to Protect Flood-Ravaged Punjab, Revives Atta-Dal, Shagun Schemes”
Tarn Taran: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has stepped up his campaign in Punjab’s flood-hit Majha region with a strong promise to make the state flood-resilient. Addressing a series of booth-level meetings in Tarn Taran in support of party candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, Badal pledged to construct permanent concrete embankments (bundhs) along vulnerable stretches to protect agricultural land, homes, and key infrastructure from recurring devastation caused by swollen rivers.
Farmers in the region, who have repeatedly suffered crop damage and displacement due to floods, have been demanding tractors, JCB machines, and sandbags to protect their fields. Badal assured them that a future SAD government would not only address these urgent needs but also put in place a long-term structural plan to mitigate disasters. “Punjab cannot afford to live under the shadow of annual floods. Our farmers, our villages, and our economy deserve permanent protection,” he said, positioning SAD as the party with a practical solution to the crisis.
Sharpening his attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Badal accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of focusing on publicity rather than genuine relief. “The state has been reduced to a stage show where announcements make headlines but people on the ground are left to fend for themselves,” Badal alleged. He pointed out that farmers were still waiting for timely compensation and assistance, while the administration was busy projecting cosmetic relief efforts.
In a bid to reconnect with the rural base that once formed SAD’s core strength, Badal announced the revival of popular welfare schemes that were discontinued in recent years. He specifically mentioned the Atta-Dal Scheme, which had provided subsidized rations to poor families, and the Shagun Scheme, aimed at supporting underprivileged families with financial aid during daughters’ marriages. “These schemes were designed to bring dignity and security to the weakest sections of society. Their revival will be a top priority for SAD once voted to power,” he said, striking a chord with many women and elderly villagers present at the gathering.
Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, the SAD candidate, echoed these sentiments, urging voters to stand united for change. She stressed that Majha had historically been a stronghold of the Akali Dal and expressed confidence that the region would once again rally behind the party. “People know who stood with them during tough times. The choice before voters is clear—between empty promises and tested leadership,” Randhawa remarked.
Badal also promised pucca (permanent) housing for poor families living in unsafe structures, along with faster approvals for agricultural tubewell connections to ensure uninterrupted irrigation. He framed these commitments as part of a broader vision to restore dignity and stability to Punjab’s agrarian and rural communities, which have faced both natural disasters and economic distress in recent years.
As Punjab heads toward a crucial electoral season, Badal’s pitch reflects an effort to blend immediate relief with long-term vision, appealing both to farmers battered by floods and to ordinary families nostalgic for welfare guarantees once associated with the Akali Dal’s rule. By invoking both the pain of present hardships and the promise of restored benefits, SAD is betting on reviving its connect with Punjab’s grassroots.
This is a web-generated news report.
