‘Land-for-Land, House-for-House’ rehabilitation for disaster victims, demands HKS’s Mandi convention
Mandi, Nov 6,
A resounding demand for “Land-for-Land (L4L)” and “House-for-House (H4H)” rehabilitation echoed across Vishwakarma Hall in Mandi on Wednesday, as the Himachal Kisan Sabha’s state convention for disaster-affected families concluded with a call for urgent government action.
The convention urged both the Centre and State Government to stop “passing the buck” and take immediate, coordinated steps to ensure justice for thousands still awaiting permanent resettlement after devastating monsoon calamities.
Kisan Sabha State Secretary Rakesh Singha, inaugurating the session, said continuous natural disasters have ravaged farmlands, homes, and livelihoods across Himachal Pradesh.
“Many affected families are left with less than two bighas of land to rebuild their homes. The central government must amend the Forest Conservation Act and provide at least five bighas of land, along with immediate housing to all displaced people,” Singha demanded.
He also called for monthly rent assistance to families living in temporary shelters and criticized local administrations for failing to comprehensively assess the full extent of damages in several districts.
The convention resolved to hold statewide demonstrations on November 26 across all district headquarters and sub-divisional offices to press for early resolution of pending demands. If no action follows, the next phase of protests is scheduled for January 19, 2026. A delegation will soon meet the state government to submit a detailed memorandum of demands.
‘Stop Playing Blame Games’: Tanwar’s warning
Addressing the gathering, Kisan Sabha State President Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said Himachal Pradesh has suffered an estimated Rs 18,000 crore loss due to recurring monsoon disasters in the past three years. However, delays in the central rehabilitation package have left thousands stranded in temporary shelters or paying high rents in urban areas.
“The Centre and State are trying to push the ball of relief and rehabilitation into each other’s court. This is a wake-up call — people are losing patience. Governments must come out of their Nelson’s sleep or stop turning a blind eye to the affected,” Dr. Tanwar warned.
Tanwar added that the Kisan Sabha has launched statewide public meetings to mobilize communities for a larger movement, asserting that L4L and H4H is not merely a slogan but a fight for dignity, livelihood, and justice.
“People no longer want sympathy; they want a permanent solution,” he stressed, calling the campaign a defining movement for Himachal’s disaster-hit population.
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