Is Udta Punjab's Image Changing Amidst Flood Relief Efforts?

Chandigarh, Sep 19 (NationPress) As Punjab faces unprecedented riverine flooding that has resulted in the tragic loss of 56 lives, the inundation of over 2,300 villages, and a staggering loss of property and livelihoods valued at Rs 13,800 crore, it is the unwavering spirit of the youth that embodies the essence of 'sewa' and 'Chardi Kala' (resilience). These young individuals are determined to navigate through these challenging times, marking the worst crisis in four decades, to collaboratively rebuild their state.

A significant shift is emerging among the youth of Punjab, previously labeled as “idle” and “drug-dependent”, who are now stepping up as the saviors of their communities.

Young men and women are diligently performing humanitarian duties, delivering essential goods to isolated villagers and reinforcing river embankments to avert further flooding.

With water levels gradually receding after several weeks, displaced families are returning to find their homes, crops, and livelihoods nearly obliterated, even as the Punjab government has pledged compensation for all victims.

Now, rural communities, supported by celebrities, influencers, and community leaders, are taking on transformative roles focused on rebuilding homes, schools, and healthcare facilities, while also enhancing embankments and drainage systems to prevent future disasters.

This flooding, caused by heavy monsoon rains and swollen rivers since August, has submerged vast areas of Punjab, known as the country's food basket, affecting over 2 million people and destroying five lakh acres of crops due to the release of water from upstream dams, which has led to rivers surpassing their banks.

In Zira, a rural area in Ferozepur—one of the districts hardest hit—octogenarian Vijay Khanna, a local doctor, shared with IANS that youth from nearly every village have been assigned tasks to facilitate rehabilitation in flood-prone regions.

Their efforts range from bolstering river embankments and forming flood-preparedness committees to mobilizing resources and clearing debris left by floodwaters from homes, streets, and fields.

“Every young person assigned a task has been utilizing their tractor-trailer through community networks to contribute to our efforts,” he said.

Khanna emphasized that portraying the youth of Punjab as drug addicts is misguided. “In reality, they were the first to confront the floods, assisted in rescue operations, and are now actively involved in revitalizing rural livelihoods.”

Set against the backdrop of rampant drug abuse depicted in the crime drama ‘Udta Punjab,’ which exposed the state’s drug crisis, the current floods—the worst in living memory—highlight the ‘survival-to-revival’ ethos of the youth, rooted in the Sikh principle of 'Sarbat da Bhala', meaning the welfare of all.

A volunteer with an international charity remarked to IANS, “It’s incorrect to label Punjab’s youth as drug users. They are committed to ‘sewa’. Wherever you see embankments being built, it’s the local youth who are leading those efforts.

“Can a drug addict engage in labor-intensive work? Only a Punjabi has the strength to do so, always embodying Chardi Kala.”

‘Chardi Kala’ signifies maintaining high spirits regardless of circumstances, including hardships.

Interestingly, the youth are increasingly engaged in “mitti di seva”, a community initiative to provide earth for the construction of embankments.

BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal expressed on X, “This sacred land (Punjab) of Gurus carries the true voice of every Punjabi: ‘Punjab must rise together.’”

He called for a white paper on the floods to ensure accountability, asserting that it is a man-made disaster stemming from government failures.

In districts such as Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran, global charities, alongside local youth, are taking volunteerism into their own hands to provide relief to villagers, aiming for long-term economic stability beyond just a few months.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently initiated ‘Mission Chardi Kala’, a global fundraising campaign aimed at supporting rehabilitation efforts for flood victims.

Chief Minister Mann stated that it is now time to advance beyond immediate relief and commence rehabilitation, emphasizing that farmers need to replant their fields, children must return to school, and families must reconstruct their homes.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)