Chandigarh, 22 July 2026:
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today wrote demi official letter to Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi pertaining to ongoing erratic monsoon crisis in Rajasthan which has led to a severe drought-like situation affecting agriculture, crops and livestock across the state with particular distress reported from the semi-arid regions of Jaisalmer district & surrounding areas. As widely reported, the 2026 monsoon has been significantly delayed, resulting in one of the driest Junes in recent history across a large part of India.
He stated that Rajasthan, particularly the arid districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer have been hit disproportionately hard. Scanty rainfall over the past two years has led to acute fodder and water scarcity, threatening the survival of millions of livestock that depend on agriculture and animal husbandry for livelihoods. Jaisalmer normally sows across nearly 7,00,000 hectares during the kharif season, which reportedly fell to 1,00,000 hectares due to the sluggish progress of the monsoon. Livestock numbers are staggering in both districts, with many cattle already dying and villagers forced to abandon animals because they can not feed them. Pastoral communities and farmers are facing immense hardship due to the monsoon crisis.
He stressed that In desperation, Rajasthan’s farmers are approaching Punjab’s farmers to shelter their livestock temporarily for grazing and feeding. Historical precedents indicate that such migrations often occur during droughts. But now, such inter-state cattle movement may be misinterpreted as “cattle smuggling”, potentially exposing them to violent vigilantism or so called “mob lynching” incidents. This concern has gained national attention in recent years. This fear is paralysing humanitarian action. Farmers who want to help are holding back and livestock owners are trapped in a no-win situation- stay and watch their animals starve or leave them behind. Their cattle are not merely assets, they are central to identity, economy and survival in the desert.
The Central Government’s commendable initiatives for cow protection and conservation including schemes like the “Rashtriya Gokal Mission” and support for gaushalas have played a vital role in promoting indigenous cattle breeds and animal welfare across the country. Therefore, the Central Government must ensure the effective implementation of such schemes in coordination with the Rajasthan Government and the neighbouring state of Punjab. This will facilitate the timely delivery of relief and prevent any misinterpretation of livestock movement/migration as an illegal activity, thereby safeguarding livestock that form the backbone of the rural economy, he added.
Speaker Sandhwan requested the Central Government for personal attention to this urgent matter and look forward to immediate directives to the concerned ministers and administrations. A swift central intervention is crucial to prevent escalation of the crisis, protect vulnerable farming communities and maintain harmony.
