'Centre criminally negligent': SKM demands national disaster declaration in flood-hit states

By A Representative 

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has urged the Centre to immediately declare the recent floods and landslides in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Haryana as a national disaster, warning that the delay in doing so has deepened the suffering of the affected population.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the farmers’ collective expressed solidarity with the people of these states, along with those in parts of Rajasthan and Delhi, who are reeling under what it described as “unprecedented devastation.” According to SKM, hundreds of lives have been lost, millions displaced, large-scale livestock wiped out, and more than 250,000 hectares of crops destroyed, leading to a severe loss of livelihoods.

“The SKM strongly condemns the criminal negligence of the central government and its unjustified delay in declaring these floods a national disaster. This delay has only intensified the distress of victims who have not received adequate relief, compensation, or timely rehabilitation,” the statement said.

The organisation criticised the recently passed Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, arguing that by replacing the word “compensation” with “relief,” the government was trying to “evade its legal and moral responsibility” towards disaster-affected families. It further alleged that disaster management was being misused as a political tool.

“Society at large has lost faith in the government, as the NDA regime in recent years has displayed a discriminatory approach towards victims of natural disasters in opposition-ruled states. Relief has been delayed or denied due to bureaucratic hurdles and political bias,” the SKM said.

The farmers’ body linked the scale of the disaster to “unscientific and reckless execution of corporate-backed mega projects,” including highways, tunnels, and tourism infrastructure in ecologically fragile Himalayan zones. “The magnitude of this calamity has been aggravated by mismanagement and projects driven by corporate greed. The government has failed in its fundamental responsibility to protect natural resources and the environment,” it said, demanding a strict review of such projects.

The SKM put forward a charter of demands for immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation. It called for compensation of ₹25 lakh to each bereaved family, ₹1 lakh immediate relief to every affected household, ₹70,000 per hectare for crop loss, ₹50,000 for agricultural labourers and rural workers, full compensation for livestock, horticulture, and farm equipment losses, and complete loan waivers for flood-hit households. It also demanded special employment guarantee schemes for displaced families and temporary housing support until permanent rehabilitation is ensured.

On crop insurance, the organisation said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana had failed farmers during this disaster. “The PMFBY has become another disaster for farmers, as it prioritises corporate interests over farmer security. The Centre must release full compensation under the scheme, overhaul its anti-farmer provisions, and remove corporate-centric clauses,” the SKM said.

Appealing for nationwide solidarity, the SKM urged citizens, farmers’ unions, and civil society groups to extend generous support in the form of donations, relief supplies, and volunteer efforts. “Relief camps are already being run by SKM in flood-hit regions of Punjab, providing food, medicines, and shelter. We appeal to all organisations and concerned citizens to contribute and join this collective effort,” the statement read.

The SKM concluded by asserting that the Centre must stop treating disaster management as a political weapon and work in cooperation with state governments. “Let us all unite to demand justice and comprehensive support for all the affected regions,” the farmers’ body said.