Punjab Floods: Women's Resilience and Contribution

Amidst the devastating floods impacting Punjab, women have emerged as key players in relief and resilience efforts. Harmel Kaur, displaced with her children, represents numerous women enduring hardships yet contributing actively to relief operations.

Living Conditions and Challenges

• Harmel Kaur and others live in makeshift camps without basic amenities, relying on gurdwara-provided meals.
• Women face greater difficulties, particularly due to lack of sanitation facilities.

Women's Contribution to Relief Efforts

• Women are pivotal in delivering medicines, setting up mobile kitchens, and maintaining hygiene.
• Harpuneet Kaur and her team focus on medical support and cleanliness drives to combat infections and ensure hygiene.
• They emphasize the need for sanitary products, addressing issues like UTIs resulting from poor conditions.

Statistics and Impact

• The floods claimed 48 lives, displaced over 3.54 lakh people, and submerged 3.71 lakh acres of farmland.
• 21,000 individuals have been evacuated to relief camps.

Community Initiatives

• Mansa-based kabaddi player Pittu Kotra and singer Baani Sandhu are leading initiatives like distributing medicines and stitching clothes for displaced women.
• NREGA women workers are mobilizing to fill sandbags to protect embankments and communities.

Support and Government Response

• Women like Mohinder Kaur are managing relief camps, ensuring food and safety for affected individuals.
• Residents describe NREGA women's efforts as one of the few government-supported measures.

Overall, women in flood-affected Punjab are not only surviving the challenges posed by the disaster but are actively participating in and leading relief efforts, embodying resilience and community spirit.