New Delhi, Dec. 18: AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Wednesday accused the Centre of neglecting Punjab on flood relief, sports funding and welfare measures, as he raised multiple demands during the debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants in the Lok Sabha.
The Sangrur MP said Punjab was yet to receive the ₹1,600 crore flood relief announced earlier and demanded ₹20,000 crore to cover actual losses caused by recent floods.
“The damage to roads, fields and public infrastructure runs into thousands of crores,” Meet Hayer said. “Announcing relief is meaningless if funds are not released.”
He also took up the issue of low honorarium paid to Anganwadi workers and helpers, calling for regularisation of their services and a permanent salary structure.
“India ranks 102nd out of 123 countries on the Global Hunger Index,” he said. “At a time like this, the workers ensuring child nutrition are being underpaid and overworked.”
Meet Hayer said the Centre currently pays ₹4,500 to Anganwadi workers and ₹2,250 to helpers, amounts he described as inadequate for full-time responsibilities.
Pointing to gaps in food distribution, he demanded the issuance of additional ration cards under the Public Distribution System, arguing that population growth since the 2011 census had left many families excluded.
“The number of families below the poverty line has increased, but ration cards have not,” he said. “People should not suffer because the census has been delayed.”
The MP also alleged unfair treatment of Punjab in sports funding, saying Khelo India grants were disproportionately allocated to Gujarat in 2024 despite Punjab’s stronger sporting record.
“Gujarat did not win a single medal at the Paris Olympics, while eight medal winners came from Punjab’s hockey teams,” he said. “Sports grants must reflect performance.”
Meet Hayer further noted that while India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, no specific allocation for sports appeared in the supplementary demands.
