Seeks ₹20,000-Crore Additional Flood Relief for Punjab; Demands Sports Funds Based on Performance
New Delhi, December 16
Young and dynamic Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, raised several critical issues in the Lok Sabha while speaking on the Supplementary Demands for Grants. He called for better pay and regularisation of Anganwadi workers, additional flood relief for Punjab, immediate issuance of new ration cards, and fair distribution of sports grants based on performance.
Hayer urged the Centre to regularise Anganwadi workers and helpers, describing the current honorarium as “meagre and exploitative.” He said workers receive only ₹4,500 and helpers ₹2,250 from the Centre, despite playing a vital role in child development. “Their services must be regularised, and a permanent salary should be fixed,” he stated, tagging the issue as a test of the government’s sincerity towards women and child welfare.
Addressing the aftermath of devastating floods in Punjab, Hayer said the state suffered financial losses of about ₹20,000 crore, with large-scale damage to its infrastructure. He reminded the House that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a flood relief package of ₹1,600 crore, no funds had been released so far. He demanded that the Centre immediately release an additional ₹20,000 crore to compensate for the actual damages.
Raising the issue of ration card shortages under the Public Distribution System (PDS), Hayer pointed out that Punjab has 1.41 crore ration cards based on the 2011 census. “Due to population growth and the absence of a fresh census post-COVID, many eligible families are being deprived,” he said, urging the immediate issuance of new cards to reflect the present demographic reality.On sports funding, the Sangrur MP alleged discrimination against Punjab in the allocation of Khelo India grants.
He noted that Gujarat received crores of rupees in 2024 despite not winning a single medal at the Paris Olympics, while eight players from Punjab earned medals in hockey. He further cited villages like Sansarpur that have produced multiple medal-winning athletes, arguing that grants should be linked to sporting performance rather than political considerations.
“India is hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, yet no provision for sports funding has been made in this year’s supplementary grants,” Hayer noted while calling for greater recognition of states that contribute significantly to India’s sporting achievements.
Taking a swipe at the government’s “Viksit Bharat” narrative, Hayer said India’s 102nd rank out of 123 countries on the Global Hunger Index raises questions about the model’s inclusiveness. He said addressing hunger, ensuring dignified employment for Anganwadi workers, and supporting states like Punjab were necessary steps towards a truly developed nation.
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