In a significant relief initiative, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has released Rs. 8.97 crore as rental assistance for families whose homes were completely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable during the devastating monsoon rains of 2025. The move reflects the government’s continued focus on people-centric governance and welfare-oriented policies, even while the state faces serious economic challenges.
The financial support aims to ensure that disaster-affected families are not left without shelter and can secure safe accommodation with dignity. Under the scheme, families in urban areas are being provided Rs. 10,000 per month, while those in rural areas are receiving Rs. 5,000 per month as rental assistance. So far, 2,817 families in rural regions and 88 families in urban areas have benefited directly from this relief measure.
The scale of the 2025 monsoon disaster was extensive. Around 16,488 families across the state were impacted, with 2,246 houses completely damaged and 7,888 houses partially damaged. Entire communities faced displacement, loss of livelihood, and severe disruption to daily life.
A government spokesperson said that for the first time in the country, disaster compensation and rehabilitation support have been increased on such a large scale through a structured relief framework. As part of a special relief package, compensation amounts for disaster victims have been enhanced multiple times. The first installment of Rs. 141.61 crore has already been released to beneficiaries for the reconstruction of damaged houses, marking a major step in long-term rehabilitation.
Over the last three years, repeated monsoon disasters have affected almost every region of the state, causing massive damage to both private and public property. The estimated cumulative loss has crossed Rs. 16,500 crore, putting immense pressure on the state’s financial resources. Despite this economic stress, the Sukhu government has continued to prioritize relief, rehabilitation, and welfare, choosing to stand with affected families rather than scale back support.
In 2023, the state government had launched a special relief package using its own resources to protect families from housing and livelihood crises. That assistance framework has been continued in 2025, ensuring continuity of support rather than one-time relief announcements.
Under the revised relief policy, assistance for completely damaged houses has been increased from Rs. 1.30 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh, reflecting a major policy shift towards realistic reconstruction costs. For partially damaged houses, a fixed assistance of Rs. 1 lakh has been introduced. Compensation for loss of household goods has also been substantially enhanced, rising from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 1 lakh for homeowners and Rs. 50,000 for tenants.
The government has also addressed long-standing gaps in disaster compensation policy. Earlier, there was no provision for damage to polyhouses or for debris and silt removal from homes. The present government introduced Rs. 25,000 assistance for damaged polyhouses and Rs. 50,000 for debris and silt clearance, providing practical support for recovery at the ground level.
The spokesperson further noted that the central assessment team that evaluated the 2023 disaster had estimated losses of Rs. 9,042 crore. In response, the state government prioritized immediate restoration of essential services such as roads, electricity, and drinking water, ensuring that public inconvenience was minimized even during crisis conditions.
The release of Rs. 8.97 crore in rental assistance is being seen as part of a broader governance approach that places human welfare at the center of policy decisions. At a time when the state is under financial pressure, the Sukhu government’s continued investment in disaster relief, housing security, and rehabilitation reflects a clear political and administrative commitment to inclusive development.
Officials reiterated that the government remains committed to supporting disaster-affected families through its own resources, ensuring that no citizen is left alone in times of crisis. The relief measures are not being treated as temporary charity, but as a structured welfare responsibility of the state towards its people.
This approach, combining fiscal responsibility with social compassion, is increasingly shaping the government’s identity as one focused on long-term resilience, social security, and people-first governance, even under economic constraints.
