Textile traders fund 32 houses for flood victims

Ludhiana: Nearly a year after floods ravaged several Punjab villages, a collective rehabilitation initiative by Ludhiana’s textile trading fraternity has funded the construction of 32 houses for affected families, with work on another eight homes currently underway.The initiative was led by local textile merchants who mobilised financial backing from traders, industrialists, professionals, and philanthropists across India, including major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai. The effort targeted economically weaker sections, such as marginal farmers and laborers living along remote, flood-prone river belts.“The success of this initiative and the opportunity to help rebuild homes destroyed by floods gives immense satisfaction. We feel blessed that the god chose us to serve these families,” said Sonu Nilibar, representing the textile merchant association. He noted that shelter became their priority after realising the immense scale of destruction in hard-hit villages like Rurewal and Darya Moosa in the Ajnala region.To execute the project, the traders partnered with a local NGO that has been managing rescue and rehabilitation efforts since the disaster. In total, the NGO has overseen the completion of 97 houses through various donor streams.Beyond the 32 homes funded by the textile traders, the remaining houses were built through diverse contributions: five were funded by members of the Indian hockey team, 22 by a prominent Punjabi singer, 16 in Malakpur village by another noted singer, and five in the Sasrali area of Ludhiana directly by the NGO.The newly built homes feature essential amenities, including toilets and basic sanitation infrastructure, to ensure better long-term living conditions. Commenting on the joint effort, volunteer Gauravdeep stated that the rebuilding process serves as a testament to collective action, helping restore the security and dignity of the victims.