Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann seeks NRI support from Australia, New Zealand for Mission Chardikala to aid 2025 flood victims and rebuild flood-hit Punjab.
NRIs from Australia and New Zealand reiterated their unwavering dedication to providing assistance to the flood-ravaged state. They also pledged their full support and cooperation to the Mission Chardikala, which was initiated by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister commended the strong emotional and developmental bond between the Indian diaspora and the NRIs from Australia and New Zealand during a virtual encounter. He stated that these non-resident Indians had established a successful career in these countries through hard work and dedication, but they had never neglected their homeland. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that NRIs have consistently been instrumental in the advancement of their villages and cities, the promotion of athletics, and the preservation of the state’s rich cultural heritage.
The CM Bhagwant Mann Seeks NRI Support for Mission Chardhikala stated that the objective of this NRI Townhall is to establish a connection between the Punjabi diaspora in Australia and New Zealand and the Chardikala mission through an interactive virtual session. He stated that the mission’s objective is to secure global support for Punjab’s relief and rehabilitation initiatives, and he also mentioned that non-resident Indians (NRIs) can be instrumental in the state’s reconstruction. Bhagwant Singh Mann showcased Punjab’s resilience and emphasized the ongoing recovery projects to the NRIs. He also invited diaspora members to partake in the Rangla Punjab Fund through CSR and philanthropic contributions.
The CM Bhagwant Mann Seeks NRI Support for Mission Chardhikala informed the NRIs that the state recently experienced floods of such magnitude that they will be engraved in the public memory for generations. He stated that the floods not only brought water but also swept away millions of aspirations, describing it as one of the most horrifying tragedies in Punjab’s recent history. In addition, Bhagwant Singh Mann underscored that this is Punjab’s most significant challenge; however, history has demonstrated that the state consistently arises more resilient from each crisis.
The floods have submerged over 2,300 villages, impacted over 2 million people, and devastated crops across five lakh acres of land, as the Chief Minister lamented. Tragically, he stated that approximately 60 lives were lost, and approximately seven lakh individuals were left homeless. Additionally, 3,200 government schools were damaged, 19 colleges were reduced to rubble, 1,400 clinics and hospitals were destroyed, 8,500 kilometers of roads were destroyed, and 2,500 bridges collapsed. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the total damage is estimated to be around Rs 13,800 crore, although the actual figure may be even higher.
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The Chief Minister informed the NRIs about the Chardikala Mission, which is a program designed to provide assistance to flood victims in Punjab. He stated that the Chardikala Mission has already received the support of numerous benefactors. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that Mission Chardikala is a global fundraising campaign that has been initiated to raise funds for the state government’s rehabilitation initiatives for the 2025 Punjab flood victims.